The effect of the Wooden Heart

Bite and Sprit arrived at Fluttershy´s cottage. Fluttershy was feeding her animals but as he saw Spirit and Bite, she waved her hoof to them. "Hey you´re back, how went the day?"

"Well it could went better but at all the foals listened to me and even petted Bite, but...." He looked to Bite.

"What went wrong?"

"Well ... Bite came to a little confrontation with two ponies and ended growling at them, he didn´t hurt anypony but still this won't help us." He looked to Bite who looked to the ground.

"As long he only growls at somepony I don´t think it is that bad!"

Spirit took a deep breath and wanted to protest but as he saw her expression and felt the sad feeling from Bite he stopped. "Yeah I think you are right. But still, even nothing bad happened you should still don´t growl at them that's rude, so ... I would say for the next week no snacks between food!" He looked at Bite which ears hung down.

Spirit smiled again. "But that doesn't mean you get nothing at all!" He turned to his saddlebags and searched for the magic plants. "Hm I think I should go in to town and look out if somepony sales this plant."

Fluttershy looked at him with confusion. "Why? I thought you had seeds or something?"

"Well I only packed a bunch of them as I left, my teacher told me I should find and earn the seeds if I need them."

"OK then, you could visit the flower shop tomorrow."

"Yes but for today I will mediated the rest of the day and then go to bed. Good night Fluttershy!" With that he walked off and sat down right before his tent.

"Goodnight Spirit." She turned to Bite and gave him a cookie and whispers to him. "Don't tell Spirit! Goodnight Bite!" Bite started jumping happily but stopped as he saw Spirit looked curious to him.

Fluttershy petted Bites head and walked to her house to feed the last animals and then went to bed too.

The next day

"Good morning Bite!" He looked to his left to see that he was still asleep. Spirit stood up and walks away quietly. 'Ok I think I go to visited the flower store today'

So he walked to the flower shop and looked around if he could find the plant as he couldn't find them he asked for the plant.

"Ah sorry but I never saw a blossom like that before. I am sorry!"

"No problem and thank you anyway." He walked outside and stopped there to think what to do now. 'What now? Maybe Twilight know where I can find these plants. As I heard she knows much about magic.'

He walked to her castle and knocked at the door and waited till Spike opened it. "Ah Spirit what can I do for you?"

"I was looking for Twilight to ask her a question. By the way do you know where this plant grow or where I can get seed from it?"

"No I never saw a plant with blossoms like these! But didn't that work with the spores or something?"

"Well no, I tried but the result was a bunch of poison joke. My teacher told me that the plant grows two different blossoms the one conation the magic and the other the seeds!" He explain to him.

"I still don't understand how that work but if you say so, anyway come in I bring you to Twilight. She is teaching Bright in healing magic at the moment." He waved him in and went in.

Spirit was a little confused but quickly followed him. "If she is teaching her student I can come back later!"

"I don't think it is a problem. So I must go cook food. Twilight is probably in the library."

'If he say so, if somepony would interrupt my teacher in his lesson it wouldn't end good.' He waved goodbye and walks to the big library in Twilights house. He both searched a bit before he found them. Bright was sitting in front of some book and Twilight stood before her and it seem that she was explaining something to her.

As Spirit entered the wing Twilight turned around. "Spike who was at the door? Oh it's you Spirit. Nice to see you."

He looked to her. "Good day, Twilight!" Then he turned to Bright. "Hello Bright."

Bright looked up from the book she was reading and smiled at him. "Hello Spirit." But turned immediately back to the Book.

"So what brings you here Spirit?"

"Well, you know that blossom I feed Bite with? I don't have much of them left. Do you know where the plant grow or where I can get the seeds so I can grow them myself?"

"A this plant I think I read about this plant give me a minute." Her horn glows and levitated a bunch of books and read the titles of them but stop as she reached green book. "Here it is .... hm ... I am sorry but it only says that the one blossom contain magic and the other seeds. Nothing more. For what does Bite need this plant anyway could he not just eat normal things?"

"He gains the magic that holds him together from it and normal plants does conation very less magic so he must eat very much, the only things that contain enough magic are living creatures and I don't think that is an option."

"You're right. I am sorry but I don't have anything about this plant. But you could ask Zecora, she knows much about plants and potions."

"Well ok I try. Bye Twilight. Bye Bright." He walks off.

He left the castle and turned to the direction of the Everfree forest. 'Hm what I should do now! I think as much as I don´t want to bother Zecora but I should find this plant.'

10 minutes later

Spirit knocked on the door of Zeroras house. After some moments the door opened and Zecora greeted him.

"Ah my fiend it´s nice to see you again
you can come in I will not complain."

Spirit followed her inside and bowed before her. "I am sorry elder I didn´t want to bother you but I have some questions!"

"Please for me this formal is only a distaste,
so why did you come to me in such a haste?"

"If you say so elder ... I mean Zecora. The reason why I am here is because I don't have much left of the plant I feed Bite with. I asked Twilight if she knew where this plant grows or where I can get the seed to grow them myself. She didn't knew but told me you could know more about the plant, so do you?" He grabbed the blossom of the plant and showed to Zecora.

She grabbed the plant and looked at it closely. Then she turned to her shelf and grabbed a jar with green shining powder.

"Yes I know this plant very good
but I didn't know it could be used as food."

"Well since he does not eat because of food but to regenerate the magic that holds them together. By the way how do you processed it into powder, as I tried that but after some seconds it lost all magic!"

"It's not easy Indeed,
a leave from the same plant is what you need!"

Spirit held a hoof under his chin and thought a moment. "Let me guess the powder is more efficient than using only the plant, right?"

Zecora nodded and put the jar back in the shelf.

"Since you have powder made of the blossom and the leaves you know where the plant grows or where I can get the seeds?"

"Yes and I will show you the way
but I must warn you it is quiet far away."

He pulled out a map out of his saddlebags and gave it to Zecora and she pointed him the way to the plant. 'Wow that is far away maybe some days or even a week by walking, some days I wish I would be a Pegasus.'

"When you get some of the seed I would ask
if you could bring me some as a little extra task."

He bowed before her. "Yes I will do this Zecora, since you´re a elder it is my duty to fulfill this task!"

"As I said before no need for the elder thing
in place the title does not mean anything.

And also this wasn't a command
it was a request and nothing I demand!"

'She don´t want to be treat like an elder but still speaks in the way of one. I don´t understand this.' "Even if you don't command this I will bring you some nevertheless! I must go now, bye Zecora!"

He leaved and went back to Fluttershy´s cottage to told her and Bite, that he has to travel far to get the seeds of the plant. FLuttershy was very quiet as he told her and Bite.

"So, you are saying you and Bite will go to find this plant for some day?"

Spirit shook his head and earned confused views from Fluttershy and Bite."No, only I will go. I don't know how long it will takes or what happened on the way. And I don´t have many blossoms left, if Bite get hurts on the way I might don´t have enough of them to restore his magic."

"So you will go alone?"

"Yes I will go tomorrow morning, so I will prepare myself for the rest of the day." With that he walked to his tent and started to pack his things for the travel.

Fluttershy followed him. "I could ask Twilight if she can organize an carriage for you. With that the way would be much shorter!"

Spirit tapped on his chin but nodded then. "Yes that would shorten the way much but say her only when it doesn't bother her."

Fluttershy nodded and flew to Twilights castle.

The next morning

Spirit was checking is stuff one last time before he wanted to go. "So, I think I have anything I need! Oh and Fluttershy I have something for you."

With that he gave her a stone with a symbol scratched on top of it. "What is that?"

"This is a contact rune you see I have one too. Normally you need magic to activate it but you can strew some of the powder onto it, you can contact me with it, if Bite makes problems. If you gave me a signal I will use my bond with him to look over what happen here."

"How do you know to make runes?"

"Back at the zebra lands my teacher showed me how to make some of them but I am pretty bad at making these."

"That's interesting but do you think I need that?" Fluttershy ask a little worried.

He laugh weakly. "I don´t think but..." He looked a bit to the left were Bite runs circles. "just for the case."

"I don't think that he will cause any trouble."

Two hours later after Spirit is gone.

"Oh no Bite be careful!" CRASH

"Please slow down a bit you might..." BANG ".. break something."

Fluttershy stopped chasing Bite. "Bite! Stop now!" Bite slowed himself shortly before he crushed in a vase.

"Bite you shouldn´t run like this around indoor. You could hurt someone!"

He looked at her but then saw the fly he was chasing behind her and started running again and tries to catch it.

Fluttershy took a deep breath and said more to herself. "I am sorry but you don't let me a chance." She closed her eyes and concentrated. As she did that she didn´t see that Bite had hits the shelf with the connection stone and the phial with the magic powder and as he hits it the phial broke and some powder fell on the stone who stared to glow.

Meanwhile far away stood Spirit with two guards before a plant.

"Ok then as I told you I need at least eight from each Blossom and some leaves!" The guards saluted and started searching for the right blossoms.

Spirit was about to cut one of the blossoms as his saddlebag started to heat a little. "What is that? Oh right I gave Fluttershy the connection-stone... Oh I should look what happened."

Spirit sat down and concentrated as hard as he could on his bond. Since they so far apart the bond seems very stretched. It took him very long to follow the bond as he finally reached the end he saw through Bites eyes and he saw that he was running inside of Fluttershys home. As he followed Bites view he saw that he had broke some things from her

"Bite what are you doing? Stop it now!"

Bite looked at the fly and Spirit sensed some shame from him. "You ran through Fluttershys home because of a fly? When I am back we have to talk. Now got to Fluttershy and excuse!"

Bite turned to FLuttershy who had her eyes closed but opened them and looked at Bite with an angry glance.

'What the ...' Before knowing what happened he was kicked out of Bites mind and lost the connection with him. He searched for the bond and found it but was unable to follow it this time.

"What was that I think I should go back as soon as I can." He called out the gourd and they put the blossoms and leaves in the carriage and went back in the direction of Ponyfillie.

As he arrived he quickly put the plants next to his tent and runs to the house. The guards didn´t know what to do so they flew back to Twilight.

Spirit opened the door. " What happened?"

"Whoa, Spirit I thought you would be away for some days."

"It takes much less time if you have two pegasus who are trained in flying fast and long ways. But I want to know what happened while I was away!"

"Well um Bite was running around and broke some things. As I tried to stop him he didn´t listened so I used the stare. I am sorry!"

Spirit raised an eyebrow. "The stare? What is that?"

"Well it is a special talent, I can stare at an animal and it will listened to me. I promised to use it only if there is no other way."

"Ok but why did you call me if you were about to use the stare?"

Fluttershy ducked her head and blushed. "I didn´t wanted to call you Bite hit the shelf and some powder fell on the stone. I am sorry I didn't want to bother you."

"Ok but if I must let the next time alone with Bite and he do something dumb, call me instantly. It doesn't bother me , I mean I don't have the ability to see through Bites eyes and to talk to his mind without a reason!"

"Well ok I will do this. So how does your trip went?"

He winced and Fluttershy looked at him a bit worried. "Is something wrong?"

"No nothing, um yes my ... trip. It went very well the guards were very fast and helped me a lot!"

"Does that mean you have the plant?"

"Yes I have enough blossoms some weeks, so I can grow the plant till I need more."

"That´s great!" Fluttershy smiled at him.

He nodded. "Yes but I think I should go to the flower shop tomorrow, to look if there is some plant fertilizer and give them some of the seeds as I promised it, but..." Then his face turned serious and he looked to Bite. "now we talk about you!"

Knock. Knock.

Sprit turned his head around to the door. Fluttershy walked to the door. "Coming."

She opened the door and the cutie mark crusaders fell in.

Apple Bloom was the first who stood up again. "Hello Fluttershy did ya saw Spirit. Oh there ya are. We wanted to ask ya a question!"

"Then ask!"

Apple Bloom opened her mouth but Sweetie Belle was faster. "We want to know how did you got your cutie mark?"

He closed his eyes and reminisce "Oh that is a long story and it is already late so.." He looked at them and saw their big eyes. He closed his eyes again. "But if you really want to hear that you should sit down. " AS opened his eyes again, he saw that they all sat down on Fluttershys couch Bite right next to them.

"Well okay then. This is also the story how I met Bite. It started all ten years ago...

One day Spirit played with his best friend, Leaf, tag in the forest near the village. She was much quicker so she won most of the time. It was no difference this time.

<"Oh come on Leaf that's not fair.">

<"Of course it is fair what can I do if you are so slow.">

<"Can we play something different. Tag is bori...>" Leaf held a hoof up and interrupted him.

<"Did you heard that?">

<"Heard what?">Suddenly Spirit could hear the strange noises from deeper in the forest too. <"Let´s look what it is!">

They both walked slowly deeper inside the forest. They stopped as they saw something behind a bush. They pushed some of the boughs away and looked through. They saw a Griffon with a red neckerchief. He stand before a small creature while holding his claws out.

"I hope you are the money worth! You caused more trouble than anything else."

Spirit leaned a bit forward to see what this creature was. As he leaned more forward he could see that the creature was a strange looking wolf, only the half big as Spirit.

He remembered so read something about his race but realize that he was not from here since he was too green. But Spirit didn´t cared much because he saw the expressions on the face of the Timberwolf, it was fear and reminded him of his situation one day long ago.

He winced but turned to Leaf. <"We must help him."> And he started ran towards them.

<"Spirit no. You're so stupid. I will go get help."> She ran in the direction of the village.

The griffon there while turned around as he heard some noises behind him and saw green earth pony running right between him and the Timberwolf cub.

"What? Go way kid!"

"No!"

"That wasn't a request. Go! Now!"

"If I go you will hurt him!" Spirit said and nodded in the direction of the small cub.

"Yes I will but this is none of your business. So go before I must hurt you too. And I already have enough problems. Thanks to this thing."

The Griffon walked forwards the cub but Spirit walked in his path once again.

"I have enough." He hit Spirit with his claws but suddenly screamed in pain. As Spirit stood up again he saw that the cub had jumped at the griffon and bite him in his right wing.

The Griffon shacked his wing to get the wolf off and tired punched him. Ashe hit him, the cub flew away and hit a tree and fall into his pieces. As Spirit looked around he saw that the griffon walked towards the pieces. Spirit didn´t knew why but didn´t want to let the griffon win so he stood up again and sprinted to him and ram him in his side.

But the Griffon quickly stood up again. "You small little... I will..." He stopped as he heard some voices. He turned quickly away.

"This is the money not worth. Hope that we never meet again!" He flew off.

Sprit slowly walked towards the pieces and saw how they rebuild them self back together to the cub. "Whoa I read about this but this."

<"Spirit where are you?"> He heard his mother shouting.

<"I am here!"> He shouted back.

<"Oh, thank you wise one, you are alright. ">His mother, Sinder, ran to him and hugged him.

His father, Cero, walked behind her followed by Leaf.

<"I only want to help him!"> He pointed to the cub to justify himself.

Leaf walked towards the cub. <"What is that?">

Cero walked to her. <"That is a Timberwolf. There are very rear here but he don´t look like he is from here.">

<"Can I keep him he looks so alone!">

His mother looked at the cub and then back to Spirit <"Yes you can.">

<"But only if you take the full responsibility for him!"> His father added.

Sprit nodded and looked to the cub who was looking at them with big eyes. Spirit could swear to feel something coming from this cub but was interrupted by Leaf. <"How do want to name him?">

Spirit thought for a moment and looked at the cub who stated biting a root from a tree. He smiled. <"I name him Bite!">

<"Let´s go home now. It is already dark!"> Cero explained.

<"Can you make some light dad?">

<"Sure!"> He pulled a small stone out of his saddlebags and rubbed it and it started to glow.

<"Look Spirit you got your mark!"> Leaf said aloud.

Spirit turned his head and looked at his mark. <"Cool a ghost wolf!"> He looked at his parents and leaf who looked a bit mad. <"Is something wrong?"> And suddenly remembered what that means.

At the Zebras, when a kid get his cutie mark the seer of the tribe interpret the meaning and they send the kid to an adult with an similar talent to learn from them. They will live with them in their home. They are allowed to visited their family and friends but it is up to the teacher how often they will met.

"... this was my story."

They all looked at him speechless. After some seconds Scootaloo spoke up. "You wasn't happy that you got cutie mark."

"I was happy to get it but still I had to leave my family. Yes I saw them sometimes but as I older I grew as less I saw them. And Leaf ... after a week she got her mark and we both had no more time to meet." Spirit looked down.

The cutie mark crusaders left after some time playing with Bite. After that Spirit walked immediately to his tent and went to sleep.