It was a normal day in Ponyville, the sun had just barely risen over the gently swaying fields of sunflowers in their full springtime bloom. The early morning air was filled with the sounds of bird song. As was normal for this time Fluttershy was tending to her early morning chores, giving food to her birds in a clearing of a small grove.
She the was first to see the stranger, silhouetted against the Sun, walking slowly along the path in the distance. The first to have anything but a normal day.
It was a weird time for anyone to be traveling on hoof from the north she thought, as she spread our more seeds from the bag she had brought. She however busied herself with her animal friends, making sure everyone had food & cleaning out the bird boxes she had placed for them. Best to leave whomever it is alone.
It was only until they were closer did Fluttershy notice them again. This time, she saw the figure make a sudden movement out the corner of her eye. Turning her head quickly, she saw the pony had tripped in a gap in the path & was now slowly getting back up. She didn’t recognise the bright orange pegasus stallion with a simple grey mane. Nor did she know why he was carrying a mail bag, of the type she’d seen Derpy carry.
He was still a few hundred meters away & had not seemed to notice her. He had resumed walking slowly with a limp along the path towards Ponyville, head held low despondently. The strangers apparent plight struck a chord with fluttershy’s kind heart, whomever it was, they didn’t look well. She quickly finished her chores, deciding maybe to meet the stranger when he was a little closer.
She bad farewell to her friends, waving goodbye to the ducks, she turned back inexorably to the path. The stranger was just about to reach the entrance to the small grove she was in. It was now or never, she thought. Summing up her courage, she went to meet him.
Reaching the gate, she could see him in even more detail now. Only his left side was visible. He looked very weathered, his mane and coat were shaggy and tangled. His blue eyed gaze was focused solely on the ground. Only his left ear was visible and it was ripped and torn and folded down along side his head; it seemed to have only healed very recently. His cutie mark was that of an envelope, with red streaks around it and the bag he had was barely packed.
“Errm, hello?” She asked quietly, coming up to the gate of the clearing.
The tattered ear turned and the blue eye focused on her. She smiled reassuringly, both for herself and the stranger. Slowly he turned his gaze back to the ground as he walked past her, Fluttershy’s heart fell.
But despite this, the shabbiness of the stranger and his obvious grief, she still wanted to help. She had to be more assertive, had to find out if she could help. Opening the gate, trepidatiously she walked up to the strangers side as he was still going along the path at the awfully slow pace.
“What’s your name?” she asked more assuredly this time.
“Tiedon” he croaked weakly, in a voice that sounded like it had never spoken for weeks.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, looking conerly at his still down turned eye.
“Deliver a message” he croaked, in a voice that was somehow even weaker than before. This time he turned his head to her. His expression looked pleased, but he didn’t smile. His left eye was closed, but opened to reveal a bloodshot, blue iris streaming with tears..
His disheveled and awkward appearance made fluttershy almost want to bolt. She kept her distance, but had to help him despite this.
“Are you ok?” she asked
“I..” he began, but his lead legs suddenly gave way, causing him to fall onto his front knees.
“I could be better” he finished.
He started making movements to get up, but fluttershy, despite her fear of the stranger, without thinking moved to help him up and support him.
“I think you need help” she said kindly.
“That would be appreciated” he said smiling wanly.
“My place is just around the corner” she said “ you can rest their”
He nodded slightly, but seemed unable to speak. They tottered off awkwardly, fluttershy trying to move as quickly as their combined strength would manage. They were silent for the few minutes it took to reach her house. She knew that his strength was almost spent, but didn’t have much to say until they finally arrived.
She told him, to take some rest and take some of the food. Before quickly rushing out to find someone to help her.
