Chivalry Reborn

Chapter 23:

Transfer Ponies

I flew towards a small batch of trees that were clustered near the edge of Everfree Forest, landing in the small clearing in the center. I glanced around myself carefully; making sure no one was nearby to see me. I trotted behind a thick trees standing up on my hind legs against it. I closed my eyes, letting a human shape appear in my mind.

Release

A flash popped into my mind, as I stepped away from the tree. I flexed my fingers about to make sure I was a human again, pulling my glasses out of pocket and pushing then against the bridge of my nose.

This is what I did every time I finished flight training with Rainbow Dash. I would swoop down here into this small clearing, make sure no one’s watching, and changed back to my old self. I’ve considered just landing on the top floor of the library, but then bystanders will see me as I did that. Not only would that raise questions of who I was, but that’d also make Twilight suspicious. I didn’t want to trouble her, so I just decided to do this instead.

Walking out of the clearing and into the trail that lead into town, I patted my shoulder lightly as I sighed. I may be a human again, but I could feel my wings on my back. It felt strange when I actually paid attention to my body as my transformed. My entire body just….remolds itself into another shape, much like an artist with clay does. It didn’t hurt, but it definitely felt strange.

“Um…Hey…” A small voice squeaked from behind me. I had barely noticed it, it was so quiet. It was small, and had a slightly high pitch, but it sounded male.  “Excuse me..?”

I turned around slowly to see who it was. It was a small Earth pony. A male, if I’m not mistake. He was fairly small for a male, maybe even a little shorter than most of the girls, which a slightly feminine figure. He had a tan coat covered in dirt, with a mane that was a light brown, fashioned in a Dutch braid that was touching his knee while it dangled off his back, the very tip of the braid was the shade of a yellow school bus. His tail wasn’t braided, but it was long, almost touching the back of his hooves, along with the yellow colors on the end. His eyes were the same color as the tip of his tail, looking somewhat dimmer in comparison.  It was an odd look for a pony, but he made it work.

He had small  scrapes and scratches all across his body, completely with some cuts and a few bruises here and there. He had fairly big bags under his eyes, possibly as a result of sleep deprivation. There was a really bad gash along upper back. He seemed like he was trying to smile, but it looked forced and very faint.

“Yeah?” I asked in a polite tone, still staring at his wounds.  Good god, he looks like he’s been through a storm.

“Yeah, um...” He began, walking towards me hesitantly. He seemed to be forcing himself along. “…I’ve been following this trail for quite some time, looking for a place to live….” He coughed harshly, before continuing. “I haven’t eaten anything but some berries and a little water, and I feel like I’m about to collapse...”

He sure as hell seemed like he was… I mentally agreed, listening to him with full attention.

“You’re the first person I’ve actually seen in this place…so could you…help me out a little..?” He lifted a hoof over his mouth, sneezing.

I looked over him, studying his condition. He sounded like he had a really sore throat, barely able to muster an coherent voice. Not to mention the rather bad coughing fits he kept having. He needed help, badly.

“Yes, certainly.” I said, walking up to him. “I can’t really leave you out here like this, and not feel guilty.”

I bent down, lifting his forelegs so they draped over my shoulders. “Excuse me.” I grunted, as I moved backwards, gripping his hind legs to lift him off the ground. He jumped a little, but didn’t really resist. He was probably too tired to really try anyway.  I started down the trail, towards the exit of the forest, carrying the exhausted stallion on my back.

“So,” I started, looking over my shoulder at him, “you have a name?”

He looked at me with a blank look, surprised I was asking him for his basic information. He looked to the side with a pained look, before closing his eyes and sighing.

“I….I don’t remember.” He reluctantly let the confession slip out of his lips.

Amnesia..? I kept looking at him, looking concerned. “Well, do you remember anything?”

“Well…” He mumbled thoughtfully, “I can remember waking up in some sort of ruin, surrounded by a bunch of trees. I got up, and then wandered the forest for about fives days, trying to find a way out.”

He looked down at his own body, as though he didn’t know it. “I also remembered the fact that I was a pony and didn’t know how to walk. I don’t why, but I don’t really feel…right like….this.” He sounded woozy as he finished his sentence.

“…” I remained silent, keeping my expression unreadable. In my mind, I was looking into what he was saying. He doesn’t remember anything past waking up in the forest, and on top of that he doesn’t feel right as a pony..? That’s totally not odd.

“I see.” I finally responded, seeing the light that led to Ponyville residential area up ahead. “Well, I think I know a group of folks that can help, hold tight.”

Twilight was the closet pony from this portion of the forest. Maybe she had some food and a first aid kit with her I could use.

“…” I didn’t hear a response from the weary bronco.

“…Hey.” I looked over my shoulder, checking on him. “You okay back there?”

His eyes had drifted shut, his breathing faint and slow.

Oh great, he passed out…I need to move then.

I shifted my footing, clasping my hands underneath his body to make sure he wouldn’t fall. I then dashed into town, towards the library; hoping that Twilight and the others could tend to the wounded traveler.

Reaching Twilight’s tree house, I quickly rapped the door. Please let someone be here…

There have been times that Twilight had gone out on short notice to talk to a friend, or go do an agenda she had nearly forgotten. Spike was sometimes out as well, getting supplies for food, or maybe help Twilight with errands. Spike had told me before that Twilight could be kind of a “neat freak,” and that she couldn’t help it at times. I prayed that this was not one of those cases.

I tapped my foot impatiently, glancing around myself to see if anyone else was around watching. There were a few concerned ponies that had dropped what they were doing to see what the rush was about, but others were either too busy to bother, or just didn’t care about the matter.

Getting sick of waiting, I started to turn around and head towards the park hastily. I’ll just have to run to someone else’s place.

Wait a minute! I spun around quickly, a thought yelling at me. This is a PUBLIC library! Why the hell am I even knocking!? SO *STUPID!***

I strode up to the door swiftly, balancing the unconscious stallion on my back as I opened the door with my left hand. I moved swiftly to the center of the main room.

“Twilight!” I shouted, glancing around myself quickly.  No one in the main room…

“Spike?” I yelled for the assistant, looking into the kitchen to the left. Not in the kitchen either.

I groaned loudly, walking toward the stairwell, stopping at the bottom.

“ANYPONY!?” I bellowed upstairs. I paused, panting shallowly as I waited for an answer.

“I hear you already, sheesh!” A young voice snapped complainingly. About time!

Spike walked down the steps lazily, a look of slight annoyance on his face. He rubbed the back of his claws against his eyes, yawning lightly. Was this dragon sleeping…? It’s two in the evening!

“What’s all the noise about..?” He moaned, seeming to wish he had a little more time’s rest before talking to me.

“It’s about helping someone in need of assistance.” I countered, stepping up the second landing.

“Who needs help with what..?” Spike pulled his paw away from his eye, looking towards me with narrowed eyes.

His fatigue immediately disappeared when he noticed the fainted pony against my back.

“What the hay happened to him?” He asked, looking at the victim stunned.

“No time to explain.” I slapped the question aside, moving onto what was important. “Do you have a couch?”

“No, we never bothered to have a couch brought in, with this place being a library and all.” Spike shook his head slowly, shifting his eyes back to me.

“Ugh.” I looked around quickly for somewhere to put the injured mustang. Nothing but chairs and rug, I thought, quickly analyzing the entire floor. Not a good resting spot. Guess we’ll go with a mattress, then.

I turned back to the bewildered dragon. “Can I borrow the bed?”

“Well, I don’t mind…” he began hesitantly, quickly stealing a glance upstairs, “but that’s Twilight’s bed, and I don’t think she’d wa-“

“She’ll understand." I barked, interrupting the dragon and slipping by the floored reptilian boy, marching upstairs.

I rounded the railing as it ended along with the flight of steps, marching across the room to the side of the bed. I then carefully turned around, lowering the passed out horse onto the covers on his side. I turned him slowly, so his entire body rested against the sheets and that he was on his stomach. I sighed, standing back upright. Where’s the help when you need it..?

I peered over my shoulder to see Spike walking up beside me slowly, watching over the battered sleeper.

“Where’s Twilight?” I asked, winding my arm back as far as it could, stretching my shoulder out to help it relax.

“She went out for a moment to go get a snack from Sugarcube Corner.” He answered quietly. He probably didn’t want to wake the guy up.

“Fair enough.” I sighed to myself, scratching my head, thinking.

In that case she’ll be shortly. My eye slide to Spike, who was shuffling his feet, looking at the unconscious pony. I don’t think neither of them have much experience in medical care, and I’m prreeetty sure this guy might be worse off if he didn’t get some soon. The only pony around here that I know who fits the bill is….Fluttershy.

I pivoted around the moment I realized that, walking towards the staircase. I stop at the top of the flight, looking at my watch. 2:20 P.M. She’s probably at the cottage as usual. Fluttershy was normally at her cottage on the more friendly side of Everfree, tending to the animals that come to her for help. She was only gone when I tried to visit her once, and that was for “a day at the spa with Rarity,” from what she told me.

“Spike.” I called to the young dragon, stepping down a step.

“Yeah?” He turned away from the bed, looking at me at attention.”

“Keep an eye on him, and give him food and water if he wakes up.” I told him instructions for while I was away in a calm and clear tone. “Make sure he stays comfortable until I get back. I’ll be right back with some help.”

With that, I quickly worked my way down to the bottom of the stairs, moving towards the door with a fast pace.

“Hey, wait!” Spike chased after me, poking his head out from the landing at me. “What do I tell Twilight!?”

“Just tell her I’ll be back shortly! I’ll explain later!” I dismissively replied, ducking under the doorway.

I spun around as soon as I was clear, gripping the doorknob as I turned. I slung my arm back as I face forward again, hearing the door slam shut behind me. I let my feet land on the ground for a moment, before starting to race down the street toward the park.

I ran into the forest at the end of the park, slowing to a quickened walk as I started to come across roots and rocks in the path, panting to catch my breath. I learned my lesson the first time coming here to see Fluttershy that I need to be careful around here.  I didn’t need another busted up leg, thank you very much.

I leaned to the side to avoid an outstretched branch that hung in the way, still keeping a moving speed. I needed to get Fluttershy to Twilight’s as soon as I can to help that guy. She’s the best caretaker in the town.

I could see the path turn to the right up ahead, indicating that I’m almost to my destination. I turn along with the trail, seeing the cottage up the distance. I started to jog, reaching the foot of the hill it stood on top of.

I strolled up the beaten path to the front door, glancing around for the yellow woodland nurse.

No sign of her out here… I locked my vision back onto the house. Probably inside, then.

I reached the front door, lightly knocking at the top half of the door.

“Fluttershy?” I called politely. “You in there? I need you to come with me to the library.”

“Ah, is that Winston?” I could hear her voice respond through the wood. I could hear some squeaks as well. “Now you just lie there while I go see what my friend needs, okay?” She cooed to the source of the squeaking. Is she tending to something in there..?

The top door opened, revealing the pink-maned pegasus. She was smiling bashfully, peering at me with one of her bangs in front of her eyes. “Um…Yes, Winston?”

“Yeah…” I began, poking my head around her form to see what was in the room with her. (So I’m nosy. Leave me alone.) There was a small chipmunk with bandages around its waist lying on the bed, sleeping. I turned my attention back to Fluttershy.

“I need you to come with me to the library.” I jabbed a finger behind me in the direction of town. “I found a wounded traveler in the forest, and he’s in really bad shape.”

“Oh no!” She gasped, losing her smile to a worrying frown.

She glanced back at the snoozing creature before flying out of the door slowly and easing it back shut. “We should hurry, then.”

“Agreed,” I nodded my head, turning around and starting back down the hill, “let’s go.”

Fluttershy hovered behind me, as we made our way back to where the mystery victim was resting.

I swung open the door, dipping my head under the doorframe as I stepped into the library at a regular pace again; Fluttershy flying right behind me, quietly closing the door behind us.

“He’s upstairs in the bed.” I told her calmly, starting up the stairs.  She nodded her head lightly, landing on the ground and climbing the steps normally.

Upon reaching the top, I could see three figures gathered around the bed. The first I recognized in the middle was Spike. He was holding a tray in front of him, talking to the other two. The second was Twilight Sparkle, nodding her head to Spike’s words as she kept her eyes on the stallion in her bed. The third was surprisingly Pinkie Pie who wasn’t smile for once, but didn't seem upset. I walked closer to hear what he was saying.

“-So then he walked past me while I was trying to explain that you probably wouldn’t like that, saying that “you would understand,” before heading upstairs and putting this guy in your bed.”  Spike said, putting down the tray of soup down on the nightstand. Ah, he’s making it sound like I’m a jerkwad.

“I do understand, Spike.” Twilight answered thoughtfully, walking closer to the unconscious wanderer. “What I don’t understand is how he got all these injuries.”

“Hi Winston! Hi Fluttershy!” Pinkie Pie perked up instantly, being the first to notice Fluttershy and I standing behind them, listening in. Twilight and Spike turned around

I shook my head, waving a hand toward Pinkie. “Hey Pinkie.” I couldn’t help but chuckle at how much of a mood whiplash that greeting was.  Fluttershy meekly waved at Pinkie with a small smile.

I turned my attention back to the purple librarian and assistant. “Now then, I think I can explain what happened to him.”

I told them everything that happened at the edge of the forest, with some minor tweaks in the story. With Pinkie there, I couldn’t really say anything about me FLYING over to the edge of the forest, so I lied, saying that I decided to take a walk in Everfree before coming to the library to study.

I also never mentioned anything about him feeling awkward as a pony.  If he’s going to be living here from now on, I can’t afford to make things awkward for him to communicate with other locals. Other than that, it was mainly the truth.

“Okay, that explains how he got so badly hurt.” Twilight argued, now sitting next to the bed. “But why was he out there to begin with? At the old castle ruins at that!”

I shrugged “Beats me.” I told her. “He said he couldn’t remember past waking up there.”

“Sounds eeeeeerrrrie~” Pinkie chimed, making a suspecting expression, her eyes narrowed to a small glare.

“It really does.” Spike agreed, looking back towards the bed. “How can we believe his story?”

“Because I fell out of the bloody sky two weeks ago out of nowhere, remember?” I countered, slipping a deadpan glance at Spike before looking to where Fluttershy was.

She was standing right next to the bed, treating the last of the weary travelers scrapes. She was especially careful with the large gash on his back. She said it looked like it's been there for about a day. If she didn't treat it much sooner, it could have possibly become infected.

“Guuuuhhh….” He stirred, making Fluttershy flinch back,  backing away to where the rest of us stood.

He slowly sat up in the bed, flickering his eyes open in a daze. He put a hoof to his head, shaking it for a moment, trying to steady his mind, probably.

“Where am I…?” He mumbled, his voice still sounding forced.

“You’re in Ponyville library.” Twilight spoke up, speaking smoothly to make sure the stallion didn’t feel threatened. “You’ll be fine here. We’re here to help.”

“Ponyville…? Wha..?” He slowly looked up to where Twilight stood, his eyes widening as soon as he saw all of us clearly.

He moved back against the headboard of the bed in fear, keeping his eyes locked on us. “Who are you people..!?” He whispered through the strain. He sounded confused and scared, waking up in such a foreign place.

“ ‘People’…?” Twilight echoed the foreign word, her expression showing confusion. “What’s people?”

I narrowed my eyes at him, my mind’s gears grinding at the reaction. He’s scared out of his mind. And he said people…there shouldn’t be a single pony who knows what “people” are except myself, Twilight, Rainbow, the princesses and…oh.

I paused, taking off my glasses and looking directly at the shadow behind the panicking mustang. Behind him was the shadow of a man, with his hand to his face in defense, just like the pony below him.

**OH… I caught on immediately after seeing that.

So he’s like me…a transferred human. Just turned pony. It’s like that guy on the phone awhile ago said. They really ARE getting transferred….

I shook my head. No time for realizations. I need to calm this fella down, before he does something to get someone hurt. I slipped my glasses back on, breathing in slowly.

“Hey, hey!” I spoke up loudly, stepping toward him. “You recognize me, right? I’m the one who helped you out in the forest.”

His eyes shifted to me, his breathing slowing a little.

“Do you?” I pressed with less volume, taking another step forward.

“…” He slowly nodded, relaxing a bit. He slowly inched himself back into his old position sitting on the bed, wincing once or twice. His wounds probably opened a little from the sudden movement. The fool.

“You’re calm now?” I asked him in a cool, relaxed tone.

He nodded his head once, coughing into his foreleg.

“Good.” I turned to Fluttershy, pointing to the tray of food. “Fluttershy, can you help him out?”

She looked at me shocked for a moment, and then slowly nodded picking up the tray with her hoofs (You know what, I don’t even give a damn no mo’) and hovering next to the confused pony, sitting the tray on the nightstand.

“Um…C-can you eat on your own…?” She stammered slightly, not really making eye contact with him. Was she afraid that he’ll jump again?

“…Mhm…” He grunted his answer, nodding his head and reaching for tray. He slipped his hoof under one of the ends, lifting up slowly.

Ki-klank

It quickly slipped away, landing back against the nightstand. The contents of the soup swishing back and forth on the sides of the bowl.

He looked confused, trying again.

Ki-klank

Ki-…klank

He’s not gonna get used to those things anytime soon… I noted in my mind, just watching in silence.

Spike was on the verge of bursting out in a fit of laughter, only to be hushed by Twilight with a kick in the back by her hoof. She walked to the other side of the bed, letting her horn sparkle in violet glimmers. The spoon resting at the end of the bowl became surrounded with the small shimmering aura, lifting out of the lukewarm soup, and moved towards the amazed patient, who mere watched in awe.

“Here,” Twilight offered, giving a smile of encouragement to the tan stallion, “I’ll help you with that.”

Must you poke a hole in the man’s pride!? I wanted to snort at the spectacle before me, glad I didn’t get dragged into a situation like this when I came; but I somehow swallowed down the giggles, watching on with a straight face.

He looked at her cautiously, glancing between her and the spoon right in front of him. He slowly conceded, sighing as he leaned forward and swallowed the soup from the spoon. He looked away from all of us, his face red in embarrassment.

Fluttershy and Twilight both giggled at his modest reaction, while Spike and I merely glanced to the side. We both felt a little sorry for his pride.  Pinkie Pie was…wait, where’d she go?

Twilight moved the spoon back to the bowl, getting a new spoonful of soup. “Would you like more?” She slipped in, before giggling a bit more to herself.

“N-no thank you.” He rejected the second chance for more embarrassment. “I’ll be fine. Really…” He was practically mumbling by the end of his sentence, but at least his voice sounded better.

“Hi!” Pinkie Pie suddenly popped from out of the covers, right in the poor mustang’s face, almost making him whack his head into the headboard in surprise. (How’d she get under that cover without him or any of us noticing is beyond me.)

“I’m Pinkie Pie, and these are my friends!”  She turned excitedly, towards up, pointing a hoof to each of us as she introduced us.

“That there’s Twilight Sparkle! She’s really smart and helpful.”

“Pleasure to meet you.” She nodded to him with a smile.

“That’s Fluttershy! She’s really quiet and shy, but she’s the nicest nice pony in all of Ponyville!”

“Um…..hi…” I could barely make out Fluttershy’s greeting she was whispering so low.

“That’s Spike, Twilight’s assistant! He’s a dragon, and can be kinda silly, but he’s a good boy!”

“Hey!” Spike intervened, mocked by the way Pinkie described him. “I don’t want to hear that from YOU of all ponies!”

“And that’s Flashy-Washy Winston!” Pinkie finally got to me, using that nickname she made up the day she learned my actual name. “He’s rude at times, but he’s really kind!”

“Gee…thanks” I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes at her description of me. I looked toward the mustang who was sitting up and watching in a mixture confusion, amusement, and slight fear. “My REAL name is Winston Flash, but just call me Winston, alright?”

He nodded in response, a small chuckle coming out from him.

“So,” Pinkie Pie hopped back into the stallion’s face, butting her head with his and looking him right in the eyes with that silly grin she always wore, “what’s your name?”

The stallion’s smile faded as she asked that, his ears falling along with it. He looked to the side in sadness, sighing.

“Pinkie!” I snipped at her, verbally slapping her wrist (or…hoof ?) for bringing up that topic.

“Oh…” She looked back at me with a sorry look, hopping down from the bed. “Right…”

A few moments of silence passed by with no one saying a word. Only the sound of the occasion hoof lightly scrapping against the wooden floor was heard for the time. Pinkie’s smile popped back onto her face out of nowhere, smiling once more.

“I know!”  She squealed in excitement. “We’ll MAKE him a name!”

“MAKE a name..?” Twilight raised her eyebrow at the party pony.

“Yeah!” She answered eagerly, nodding her head.

I considered the idea in my mind, rubbing my head slightly. “Well…” I began, “that does sound like a pretty good idea.” It’s not like he’s going to remember it anytime soon, if this has happened for hundreds anyway.

Spike was about to put his two cents in. “Well, I gu-“

“So it’s settled!” Pinkie chimed, hopping back into the stunned stallions face. “What do you think your name is?”

Well, damn. Can’t the guy finish his sentence? I just scratched my head, watching.

“Oh, I don’t know..!” The stallion protested, leaning away from the pink mare.

“Well, you have a pretty long ponytail on your head!” Pinkie Pie didn’t back down on the idea. “How about Ponytale?”

“No.” Twilight rejected the idea, giving a dulled expression towards her friend.

“Braidhair?” She offered and even sillier name.

“No.” I was the one to deny the dumb idea this time.

“Chalktip?”

“No!” Twilight shot down the idea again.

"Thundertail?"

While those two kept up the charade, I tilted my head to the side to look at his flank. No, not like checking him out, but to look at his cutie mark. Behind the sheets, I could see the shapes of a loaf of French bread, along with long grain of wheat.

I blinked, looking at it for a little while before I spoke up, hushing the two arguing ponies. “Hey, how do you feel about bread?”

“Bread..?” He asked, thinking about the question. “I think it’s a great food to eat, and has so many possible styles to it.” He slowly smiled to himself as he went on. “The flavor it gives, the texture of the grain, and all of the fun shapes you can make with it makes it an art form in of itself!”

I nodded slowly, letting his rant come into mind. “So you think you like baking with grain?”

He looked at the sheets, thinking for a moment before looking at me with a small grin on his face. “Yeah, I think so.” He replied, sounding like he had come to a revelation.

I smiled letting the first name that came to mind roll off my tongue. “How does Baking Soda sound?”

His smile slowly widened at the name. “I like it..!” He approved with a spark in his eye.

“Woohoo~!” Pinkie Pie bounced in glee at the successful naming. “We have a winner~! Hi Shaker-Baker Soda!”

He looked at Pinkie like she just lost her marbles.  “Wha-”

“Don’t try and reason with it.” I stopped him before he made a big mistake. “You’ll snap if you try to, trust me.”

He looked at me in confusion before shrugging.

“Now that we have introductions out of the way,” Spike spoke up, putting his hands on his hips, “maybe you can explain what happened to you firsthand.”

“He’s right…” Fluttershy slipped in quietly. “We can’t, um…”

“Trust him.” Spike slipped in the harsh way to put it.

“…that…” Fluttershy took it, “if we don’t know what happened to you or where you came from. So, um…if you don’t mind….you could tell us…what happened..?” She shrank away as Baking Soda looked towards her with a blank expression.

He sighed, closing his eyes. “It’s mainly a blur, but I can tell you everything I can recall if you want…” He slowly offered.

“Please do.” Twilight took it, listening attentively. “Tell us everything you can remember.”

“Alright..” He shifted in the bed, starting his story, as well gathered around and listened.