Filly Awareby StarSquidChaptersPrologueChapter 2Chapter 1PrologueThe first thing that came to my mind was not the throbbing headache or the sore back. Nor was it the itchy feeling body. It was the sound of birds and the light shimmering on my face. Slowly opening my eyes, I immediately regretted it. The brightness was not doing my obvious hangover any good and I let out a pained moan. Weirdly, my moan came out more like a whimpering squeak. But before I could think too much about it, my body froze as I felt something I never had before. My ears flicked. I couldn't tell if it was just my nerves acting up, or something else. So I rolled over to my side, only to become more confused. I could feel the grass and dirt beneath me. Slowly opening my eyes, wincing a little from the light, I confirmed the feeling. I was outside, and it wasn't winter. Quickly I sat up and looked around. My eyes painfully adjusted to the daylight as I found myself in a bright and lively forest. It was a radical change from the Canadian winter I was in yesterday. How? Was all I could manage to think before rubbing my eyes. When my face was met with a hard solid "whack". Rearing back, I fell over and covered my face. But my hands felt off. After a moment of recovering, I opened my eyes once more and was shocked by what I saw. They weren't my hands; instead, in their place were a pair of fuzzy cream-colored stumps with hardened tips on each end. I just stared at them for what felt like minutes, unable to process what was going on. Slowly, my mind was trying to make out what had happened. Around me, the sounds of nature continued to be heard. It was a calm contrast to my current state of mind. Birds continued to chirp and the trees rustled as I endured my mental panic of trying to process just what was going on. This had to be a dream. Was I still drunk? Am I drugged? A thousand questions raced through my mind as my brain desperately tried to come to terms with the situation. Closing and reopening my eyes, checking my arms over and over again, as if hoping this hallucination would fade and I’d see my normal limbs intact. I kept doing this until eventually looking down. It was then my mind had fully awakened and I fully realized what had happened. My first instinct was to scream. The shrill, newly feminine shriek seemed to echo through the woods. It felt as if my cry silenced everything around me. Leaping forward and onto my now fully understood forehooves, I continued to look over my new body. 'I. Was. A. Pony!' This had to be a dream, maybe some sort of lucid one. It felt too real. Looking around, I took in my surroundings. Feeling the gentle breeze blow through my mane, and the cool grass on my hooves. I stifled a childish giggle as my ears twitched and flicked seemingly on their own. It was surprisingly easy to get the hang of walking. I wasn't sure if it was simply instinct or that it felt no different than running up stairs with your arms. Soon I found myself wandering the pleasant forest, occasionally soaking in patches of sun from between the trees. It was all so surreal. Too surreal to simply be a dream, and too grounded to be some sort of drug-induced hallucination. Lost in thought, I tried to think of any sort of logic behind why I was suddenly a small horse. My attempt to rationalize my current situation was interrupted when I suddenly noticed it was starting to get dark. 'It shouldn't be getting late already, I just woke up.' Looking towards the sky, I quickly noticed the darkening gloomy sky. 'Overcast? That fast?' I could have sworn it was clear when I last looked up. 'Perhaps with pegasi running the weather, things just change that fast.' Before I could contemplate any further, I felt a small raindrop hit my muzzle. Hoof reaching up, I carefully booped my face to confirm it. "Oh, great…" As if waiting for my word, the sky started to downpour. Taking cover under one of the denser trees, I looked around for any signs of civilization. A sign. Anything. But I only saw nature all around me. This was gonna be a long day, wasn't it? The rain came in waves, sometimes dying down, giving me false hope that it had ended. Only for the water to come back down hard once more. Through the woods I ran, looking for some sort of trail or building, but only saw more trees. What didn't help was how it seemed to only start raining harder and harder. Suddenly, I saw a flash quickly followed by a loud thunderous boom. "Ahhhh!" I let out a girlish scream and quickly ran under a massive oak tree. My body was trembling. I wasn't sure if I was just cold from the rain or if the thunder actually got to me. A moment later, another flash followed by another boom. I felt… scared? No, just a bit on edge, that's all. I tried my best to justify my heightened panic. 'Just need to find shelter.' It only seemed to get darker as the storm grew more violent. All the while, each explosion and even the rumble of distant thunder seemed to wear on my growing sense of anxiety. Why was that? I'm not afraid of thunder. This must have been what my cat felt during storms. Another loud boom caused me to jump and I suddenly bolted towards a random direction. I had to get out of this storm. I had to find a dry place to stay. I had to hide! A small logical part of me seemed to push back at my sudden fear, but it didn't seem to budge. More and more I ran, now noticing the shadows illuminated by the flashes of light. It felt like something was following me, chasing me! My breathing grew rapid as I continued to sprint for my life, tripping into the mud and roots. Pulling myself up, I winced in pain. Tears swelled up in my eyes, hidden by the rain, as I continued to run. I didn't bother to think or plan, simply running for someplace safe. Safe from the rain, the loud sound and the scary shadows. With the rain so thick and sky dark, I could barely make out the glow of a house's light. It drew me in like a beacon of hope, a lighthouse in this horrific storm. Sprinting towards it, my body ached, legs burned, and my mind full of fear. I eventually arrived and slammed myself against the door. Another burst of thunder caused me to scream and bang my hoof on the wood. I wasn't sure if the storm was masking my banging or if whoever wasn't home, so I called out begging for help. "Please! Help! Please!" I pleaded, and banged on the door, tears streaming lost in the torrent of water. My cries for help quickly devolved into incoherent wails and then my prayers seemed to be answered. I didn't even bother to look at who had opened the door before I ran in and wrapped my hooves around them. Burying my face in the dry soft fur, I heard the door quickly close and a soothing voice shushing me. What felt like a warm blanket of feathers quickly enveloped me and I simply curled up, wishing for the scary thunder to stop. Chapter 2Resting in what felt like a sea of warm fabric, I yawned as my mind slowly came to. Midway through stretching, I stopped, something seemed off. My confused sleep filled mind pondered what was different. 'My bed felt too big. It felt… To… comfy…' I managed to catch myself before drifting back to sleep. 'Wait. Where am I?' I racked my mind trying to recall the previous night's events. It was all so hazy… It was… Scary? Visions of sharp branches and bright flashes filled my mind, causing me to shiver. Curling up tight, I was finally able to remember what had happened. The storm, the panic, the scary sounds. Thankfully, that was all over. At least, I hoped so. After reflecting on my current situation, I realized I still didn't know where I was. This wasn't the forest. The last thing I could recall during that dreadful night was running towards a light. Its soft orange glow was a comfort compared to the harsh shadows and thundering flashes that were all around me. The silhouette of a soft figure took shape in my mind. I knew that it was what saved me. I knew that she saved me. For some reason I kept thinking back to her warm scent and how it calmed me. Her soft silk fur comforted me as her massive wings shielded me from the horrors of the outside world. Part of me was suddenly missing her. I lay awake in my fortress of blankets and pillows. Only a trickle of light seemed to penetrate my little sanctum. With it I examined myself, well, more like just stared at my fur. It was cream-colored, just like I remembered from yesterday. Sighing to myself, I rustled around. A strange sense of boredom was cultivating inside of me. Not fear, this place sure felt safe. Strangely the blankets had the faint scent of my savior and that too worked to calm me. Finally my boredom and curiosity got the better of me and I decided to finally venture out of my small burrow. Like the mighty meerkat, I carefully poked my head out from under the covers and surveyed my environment. It was quiet, the room itself devoid of any obvious movement. Looking around, I couldn't help but feel that this place looked weirdly familiar. Bird houses hung from the ceiling, as the curtains fluttered and danced from the morning breeze. Quietly, I climbed out of my nest with all the grace of a drunk dog. Legs tangled in the blankets. I immediately tumbled forwards, and crashed with a surprisingly loud thud, face first onto the wood floor. "Crap!" My failure echoed throughout the room, causing some of the bird cages to raddle. Chirps and panicked wing flaps could be heard as I rolled onto my back. Several birds seemed to circle around my head before I was able to shoo them away. Feeling my muzzle with my hoof, I winced and felt myself actually teared up. 'Why am I crying? I don't feel any blood.' Whimpering, I examined my hoof and sure enough, it was clean. My muzzle was just throbbing. 'Stop being such a baby' I berated myself, tears still streaming down my face. Carefully standing up, I rubbed my snoot and sighed. The commotion seemed to draw the attention of more creatures as various animals began to poke their heads out from numerous nooks and spaces. The once quiet room seemed to spring to life like something out of a Disney film. Critters of all kinds seemed to come out of nowhere. From small rabbits to otters, mice and even… A bear?! What I assumed was just a large fuzzy cushion stretched out and turned to look at me. The mighty beast yawned and tilted its head at me before giving me a little wave. I couldn't help but freeze in place as all the animals just stared at me. They seemed curious to see who I was and why I caused such a ruckus, chittering and squeaking with wonder. Surrounded on all sides by an entire zoo, I felt their eyes watch me. Feeling a growing sense of fear and my still throbbing muzzle, I began to sob. Curling up, wishing I was back under my blankets. Cursing myself for even daring to venture out. "Oh dear, what was that sound? I hope no creature got hurt." My ears perked up at that voice. I recognized it. That was her… That was the voice from last night! Looking over at the door, I saw a gentle yellow pegasus. I knew her, and not just from yesterday. I knew her from somewhere else. My still scared mind struggled for a moment until I finally remembered. That's Fluttershy! She wore a concerned look and gazed around at the creatures before finally noticing me. Her eyes widened as she let out a gasp. The next thing I knew I had a face full of yellow fur. "You poor thing! What's the matter?" As she spoke, her wings wiped away my tears before embracing me in a full hug. I stayed silent, still processing what was going on. Tears continued to stream down my face. Her hug felt comforting and familiar. It felt safe… For what had to be an eternity, I fully embraced Fluttershy. Logically I should have just pushed away and asked how I got here, but this small part of my mind didn't want to let her go. Burying my face into her soft fur, I slowly felt myself relax. Embracing her, I cried. I sobbed out all the confusion and frustration that had been building up inside of me. Her hoof gently stroked the back of my head as I felt her wings envelope me. Much like she had the night before. But this time I was dry, comfortable, and safe. Finally, I mustered up the strength to push away. "It's alright sweetie. You're safe here. No pony will hurt you." Feeling her hug loosen, I backed up a bit. Still sniffling a little, I rubbed my muzzle. It no longer hurt and I had finally stopped crying. She was much larger than I expected. Standing at least twice my size. 'How small am I?' I thought to myself as she smiled and stood up. Walking around the crowded room, she greeted and reassured every creature that everything was alright. "I guess since everycreature is awake, we should all have breakfast." Fluttershy spoke in her typical soft and gentle voice. Trotting over, she held out a hoof and helped me stand. She then put her hoof to my forehead. "You're very lucky to not have gotten a fever, being out in that dreadful storm." I simply nodded, not quite sure how to talk to her. I still wasn't quite used to my voice, let alone how I should even talk to a fictional character. "Let's get you something to eat." Following her closely, I was taken to the main room. Seeing her home from a completely different perspective was interesting. Having only ever seen her cottage on the show or in panels from the comics, to actually be here was jarring. The only way I could describe it was if you got to visit a set for a show you always watched. Only this wasn't just some soundstage; it felt lived in. She gestured over to a large green chair and I did my best to climb onto it. My small size was already annoying me a bit. When Fluttershy noticed my struggle, I felt her push me up with her wing. "Th-Thank you." I sheepishly said. Fluttershy smiled in response. "I hope you don't mind if you wait here while I go feed the other animals first. They can get quite upset when they don't have breakfast right away." "It's alright. I can wait." I said, speaking with more confidence this time. My voice was still something I had to get used to. With that she turned and trotted away. The main room was well lit and comfortable. I could feel the morning air flow from the open windows and even caught a whiff of the fresh air. Looking around, I noticed a hairbrush and mirror set on the side table next to me. "What exactly do I look like?" I couldn't help but wonder out loud. Sure, I've seen my arms, or I guess they are legs. My body itself looked pretty standard for how I pictured a three-dimensional cartoon pony would look. Looking down, I did notice my lack of a cutiemark. Guess I'd get that in time. But what did my face look like? Leaning over to the small table, I looked down at the mirror and was shocked. I couldn't quite describe it; it was as if some part of me instantly recognized myself. Yet I know I've never seen this face before. I know I've never seen this pony before. Her deep green eyes locked onto my own. Her mane, my mane, was orange and a bit messy. The tips fading into a reddish pink. Part of me could see how my human self had translated over to this new form, noticeably my freckles. Yet they now appeared closer to brown speckles upon my fur. Slowly blinking, my reflection did the same. This equine doppelganger mimicked my every movement. Raising my hoof, I felt my cheek and then mane. The pony in the reflection did just the same. That's when I caught notice of something. A horn! It was just barely poking out of the mess that I called mane. Gently, as if expecting it to somehow snap off, I carefully touched my horn. To my surprise, the horn, my horn, felt it. I could only describe it as feeling like a tooth. Hard and solid for sure, but I could feel my hoof tapping it. The filly in my reflection appeared cross-eyed as I stared at my horn. I wonder if I can do magic? I sure hope so. Suddenly, I noticed my ears twitch as the sound of flapping grew closer. Seeing Fluttershy float along with the grace of a butterfly caused me to simply watch in awe. Gently floating down, she placed the tray on the small table, lifted the pot with her hoof, and began to pour me a cup. It was at that moment I asked myself. 'Hooves, how do they work?' Author's Note Hey y'all. Sorry for the lack of updates, I've been super busy with life and work. Chapter 1The day was much like any other for Fluttershy. She worked on her garden and had polite conversations with the numerous animals. That day had been sunny and warm, a pleasant late spring breeze blew across the peaceful forest. Accompanying the happy mare was Angel Bunny, the white mischievous bun tapping his foot impatiently. “I’m sorry Angel, I’m almost done. I just need to check up on Mr Robin. Then we can go on our picnic, alright?” She had ruffled the grumpy bunny's head before trotting over to one of the many birdhouses that hung around her peaceful cottage. As she approached the bird sized home, a head poked out and chirped. Fluttershy smiled as the small bird hopped out of his home, one wing wrapped in a bandage. “Why Good day Mr Robin. How does your wing feel today?” The bird chirped in response, and the kind pegasus nodded. “That's good. Though I do want you to keep it on just a teensy bit longer, I know you're anxious to fly. But It’s important we make sure it heals completely.” The bird just looked down and let out a sad chirp. Fluttershy just gave the robin a reassuring smile and gently patted his head. "I know what'll cheer you up." She opened her saddlebag with her wing and pulled out a small cup. Shaking it slightly, its content rattled and seemed to draw the little bird’s attention. Realizing what it was, he immediately began to hop about. Fluttershy set the cup on the bird house and opened its lid. Inside was a sweet smelling collection of delicious seeds. The bird sang happily and hopped up onto the cup before diving head first in his meal. She watched as the bird ate his fill when she suddenly felt a tug on her leg. Looking down she noticed Angel looking up at her frowning. “Alright, let's go. I’ll see you later Mr. Robin.” She waved goodbye to the bird and followed Angel. She admired the peaceful day as her and the bunny walked the trail to their usual picnic spot. The other creatures were already waiting by the time they arrived. “I’m sorry everycritter. I got a little sidetracked helping Mr Robin. I hope you all can forgive me.” Mr Bear and the other critters all nodded, chirped and grunted happily. Fluttershy smiled and began to take various snacks and food from her saddlebags. Some honey for Mr Bear, mixed salads for the other bunnies, nuts for the squirrels and finally, a big juicy carrot for Angel. He greedily snatched it from her hooves and hopped on over to the other rabbits. With the animals all happily eating their meals, she sat down and joined them. They were only halfway through their meal when Fluttershy noticed it was already getting dark. ‘How strange’ She thought to herself ‘It’s still only noon.’ Looking up, she saw dark clouds beginning to form. “Oh my! Alright everycritter, let's all gather our stuff and head back to my cottage. I wasn’t expecting rain.” By the time they had all either finished their meals or had it put back in Fluttershy’s bag, the first bit of raindrops began to fall. The sky had grown darker and the trees began to rustle. Quickly trotting along, she picked up Angel and took flight. Keeping low to the ground and with her animal friends, they all fled towards her home to avoid the worsening rain. The wind began to pick up as the sky grew ever darker. Fluttershy felt a shiver as the rain turned into a downpour and the storm grew worse. Finally, she had made it and quickly opened her door, letting herself and the critters inside. All the creatures ran, flew and skittered inside. But just before she closed the door, she gasped. “Mr Robin!” Quickly she flew back outside and over to the collection of bird houses. While she knew the little homes could handle rain, she worried about the injured robin possibly getting sick or his bandages wet. When she arrived, the rain was coming down hard and the wind was getting bad. Opening the side of his bird house, she was relieved to see the bird inside. Carefully scooping him up and placing him into her bag, she turned to flee the storm. Once inside, she shook herself off and took out the injured robin. He chirped a thanks and ruffled his feather, shaking off some of the rain on him. Letting out a relieved sigh, Fluttershy looked around. All the animals were safely inside, most cuddling each other or watching the storm unfold out the window. After drying off Mr Robin and changing his wing bandage, she placed him in one of the many indoor nests scattered about. With the room full of wet animals, some seemingly scared, Fluttershy knew it was gonna be a long night. She was finishing making her rounds throughout the home. Checking up on the critters, picking up towels and empty bowls of food. The cozy and warm interior of the cottage was juxtaposed to the raging thunderstorm outside. Scattered around the main room sat the animals, most having already begun to fall asleep. Birds sat snuggled together in tiny nests while bunnies slept soundly in fluffy piles. The rain had come as quite the unexpected shock to her as she hadn’t remembered hearing about a scheduled storm for the day. Now she trotted about, making sure every creature was comfortable. Occasionally she would see a flash from outside and braced herself for the rumble that typically followed. Thunder had always scared Fluttershy and while she managed to mostly overcome those fears, she still felt anxious from those loud booming sounds. Looking over at the sleeping animals, she did find herself relaxing slightly. They all slumbered peacefully, huddled together, warm, and dry. Breathing a sigh, the tired mare finally decided she had done enough and began to settle down. Sitting on a cushion by the lit fireplace, she watched the flames dance and opened a book. Just before she could get comfortable, she suddenly heard a bang. Jumping from her seat, the sound wasn't like the rumbles or crashes of thunder. Some of the animals awoke and seemed confused, most looking towards the source of the sound. The banging came again and again. Each time louder and more erratic. Something was at the door. She froze and looked over at the sound as it continued. Maybe a branch had fallen loose and begun to beat against her door? Or maybe something was trying to get in? Was it friendly? Fluttershy gasped to herself. Was it some sort of evil monster that caused the storm in the first place? Birds chirped and animals whimpered. Fluttershy’s imagination was abuzz with various ideas and fears on what this monster was, but before she could panic, her ears suddenly perked. She could hear crying, no not just crying. Screaming and from a foal no less, it was coming from the door. Begging for somepony to let them in, crying for the scary thunder to go away. Fluttershy knew what she had to do. Suddenly gaining a surge of bravery, she took a deep breath and rushed over to the door. Her hoof froze just momentarily before grasping the handle, a small ounce of fear still gripped her. But she knew she had to help whoever was crying out. Pulling open the door, she looked out, but before she could see who it was, she felt a small shivering, wet form lunge and grabbed onto her chest. Looking down, it was revealed to be a quivering, crying filly. Whimpering as she buried her face into Fluttershy's soft yellow fur. The relieved pegasus quickly embraced the small pony and closed the door, shielding them both from the harshness outside. Her wings enveloped the still crying filly as she began to comfort her. "Shhh… It's ok, you're safe now." She held the filly tight, nuzzling the top of her head as she felt her tremble. Fluttershy’s heart ached at the idea of this poor defenseless filly being caught up in that nasty weather. She was able to hold the filly up with her wings as she clung hard to her chest. Caring the scared pony over to the fireplace, she had grabbed a blanket and towel to hopefully clean her up. By the time Fluttershy had brought the scared filly to the fireplace and wrapped her in a warm blanket, she had dozed off. The poor thing was exhausted, Fluttershy thought as she cuddled up close. They both sat curled together as the storm continued to rage. Carefully, the gentle pegasus began to wipe away the dirt and mud from the sleeping pony. Her years of tending to small animals let her effortlessly clean the filly without them even stirring. The storm appeared to calm ever so slightly as the room remained dimly lit by the glow of the fire. Fluttershy frowned as she tended to the little one’s cuts. Why was she out so close to the Everfree and where were her parents? Fluttershy hoped they were searching for her. But she knew this harsh storm would make that difficult. She examined the slumbering filly, her cream coat now clean of mud. Her mane was messy and brown fading into a light pink at the tips. She also seemed to have freckles all around her cheeks and muzzle. The filly lacked a cutiemark and looked no older than Applebloom and her friends. Was she even from Ponyville? She certainly didn't recognize this pony. Ponyville itself isn't that large of a town, maybe her family was visiting. The puzzled pegasus had so many questions and not enough answers. She knew she couldn't figure any of it out now, so no reason to worry. What mattered now was that she’s warm and safe. Leaning in, Fluttershy nuzzled her and gave a gentle smile. She felt her move and curled up tighter. The now distant sound of thunder caused the filly to shiver. Cuddling closer, Fluttershy draped her wing over the small filly and began to gently hum a lullaby. Fluttershy’s comforting sounds and soft wings seemed to calm her. Surrounded by a seemingly warm cloud, the mysterious filly slept. Her nightmares were gone as she was enveloped in a world of peace. The mare finished her song and let out a yawn. The stress of the day had finally worn her out. Lowering her head, Fluttershy closed her eyes. She softly nuzzled the sleeping filly, before she herself drifted off to slumber.
PrologueThe first thing that came to my mind was not the throbbing headache or the sore back. Nor was it the itchy feeling body. It was the sound of birds and the light shimmering on my face. Slowly opening my eyes, I immediately regretted it. The brightness was not doing my obvious hangover any good and I let out a pained moan. Weirdly, my moan came out more like a whimpering squeak. But before I could think too much about it, my body froze as I felt something I never had before. My ears flicked. I couldn't tell if it was just my nerves acting up, or something else. So I rolled over to my side, only to become more confused. I could feel the grass and dirt beneath me. Slowly opening my eyes, wincing a little from the light, I confirmed the feeling. I was outside, and it wasn't winter. Quickly I sat up and looked around. My eyes painfully adjusted to the daylight as I found myself in a bright and lively forest. It was a radical change from the Canadian winter I was in yesterday. How? Was all I could manage to think before rubbing my eyes. When my face was met with a hard solid "whack". Rearing back, I fell over and covered my face. But my hands felt off. After a moment of recovering, I opened my eyes once more and was shocked by what I saw. They weren't my hands; instead, in their place were a pair of fuzzy cream-colored stumps with hardened tips on each end. I just stared at them for what felt like minutes, unable to process what was going on. Slowly, my mind was trying to make out what had happened. Around me, the sounds of nature continued to be heard. It was a calm contrast to my current state of mind. Birds continued to chirp and the trees rustled as I endured my mental panic of trying to process just what was going on. This had to be a dream. Was I still drunk? Am I drugged? A thousand questions raced through my mind as my brain desperately tried to come to terms with the situation. Closing and reopening my eyes, checking my arms over and over again, as if hoping this hallucination would fade and I’d see my normal limbs intact. I kept doing this until eventually looking down. It was then my mind had fully awakened and I fully realized what had happened. My first instinct was to scream. The shrill, newly feminine shriek seemed to echo through the woods. It felt as if my cry silenced everything around me. Leaping forward and onto my now fully understood forehooves, I continued to look over my new body. 'I. Was. A. Pony!' This had to be a dream, maybe some sort of lucid one. It felt too real. Looking around, I took in my surroundings. Feeling the gentle breeze blow through my mane, and the cool grass on my hooves. I stifled a childish giggle as my ears twitched and flicked seemingly on their own. It was surprisingly easy to get the hang of walking. I wasn't sure if it was simply instinct or that it felt no different than running up stairs with your arms. Soon I found myself wandering the pleasant forest, occasionally soaking in patches of sun from between the trees. It was all so surreal. Too surreal to simply be a dream, and too grounded to be some sort of drug-induced hallucination. Lost in thought, I tried to think of any sort of logic behind why I was suddenly a small horse. My attempt to rationalize my current situation was interrupted when I suddenly noticed it was starting to get dark. 'It shouldn't be getting late already, I just woke up.' Looking towards the sky, I quickly noticed the darkening gloomy sky. 'Overcast? That fast?' I could have sworn it was clear when I last looked up. 'Perhaps with pegasi running the weather, things just change that fast.' Before I could contemplate any further, I felt a small raindrop hit my muzzle. Hoof reaching up, I carefully booped my face to confirm it. "Oh, great…" As if waiting for my word, the sky started to downpour. Taking cover under one of the denser trees, I looked around for any signs of civilization. A sign. Anything. But I only saw nature all around me. This was gonna be a long day, wasn't it? The rain came in waves, sometimes dying down, giving me false hope that it had ended. Only for the water to come back down hard once more. Through the woods I ran, looking for some sort of trail or building, but only saw more trees. What didn't help was how it seemed to only start raining harder and harder. Suddenly, I saw a flash quickly followed by a loud thunderous boom. "Ahhhh!" I let out a girlish scream and quickly ran under a massive oak tree. My body was trembling. I wasn't sure if I was just cold from the rain or if the thunder actually got to me. A moment later, another flash followed by another boom. I felt… scared? No, just a bit on edge, that's all. I tried my best to justify my heightened panic. 'Just need to find shelter.' It only seemed to get darker as the storm grew more violent. All the while, each explosion and even the rumble of distant thunder seemed to wear on my growing sense of anxiety. Why was that? I'm not afraid of thunder. This must have been what my cat felt during storms. Another loud boom caused me to jump and I suddenly bolted towards a random direction. I had to get out of this storm. I had to find a dry place to stay. I had to hide! A small logical part of me seemed to push back at my sudden fear, but it didn't seem to budge. More and more I ran, now noticing the shadows illuminated by the flashes of light. It felt like something was following me, chasing me! My breathing grew rapid as I continued to sprint for my life, tripping into the mud and roots. Pulling myself up, I winced in pain. Tears swelled up in my eyes, hidden by the rain, as I continued to run. I didn't bother to think or plan, simply running for someplace safe. Safe from the rain, the loud sound and the scary shadows. With the rain so thick and sky dark, I could barely make out the glow of a house's light. It drew me in like a beacon of hope, a lighthouse in this horrific storm. Sprinting towards it, my body ached, legs burned, and my mind full of fear. I eventually arrived and slammed myself against the door. Another burst of thunder caused me to scream and bang my hoof on the wood. I wasn't sure if the storm was masking my banging or if whoever wasn't home, so I called out begging for help. "Please! Help! Please!" I pleaded, and banged on the door, tears streaming lost in the torrent of water. My cries for help quickly devolved into incoherent wails and then my prayers seemed to be answered. I didn't even bother to look at who had opened the door before I ran in and wrapped my hooves around them. Burying my face in the dry soft fur, I heard the door quickly close and a soothing voice shushing me. What felt like a warm blanket of feathers quickly enveloped me and I simply curled up, wishing for the scary thunder to stop.
Chapter 2Resting in what felt like a sea of warm fabric, I yawned as my mind slowly came to. Midway through stretching, I stopped, something seemed off. My confused sleep filled mind pondered what was different. 'My bed felt too big. It felt… To… comfy…' I managed to catch myself before drifting back to sleep. 'Wait. Where am I?' I racked my mind trying to recall the previous night's events. It was all so hazy… It was… Scary? Visions of sharp branches and bright flashes filled my mind, causing me to shiver. Curling up tight, I was finally able to remember what had happened. The storm, the panic, the scary sounds. Thankfully, that was all over. At least, I hoped so. After reflecting on my current situation, I realized I still didn't know where I was. This wasn't the forest. The last thing I could recall during that dreadful night was running towards a light. Its soft orange glow was a comfort compared to the harsh shadows and thundering flashes that were all around me. The silhouette of a soft figure took shape in my mind. I knew that it was what saved me. I knew that she saved me. For some reason I kept thinking back to her warm scent and how it calmed me. Her soft silk fur comforted me as her massive wings shielded me from the horrors of the outside world. Part of me was suddenly missing her. I lay awake in my fortress of blankets and pillows. Only a trickle of light seemed to penetrate my little sanctum. With it I examined myself, well, more like just stared at my fur. It was cream-colored, just like I remembered from yesterday. Sighing to myself, I rustled around. A strange sense of boredom was cultivating inside of me. Not fear, this place sure felt safe. Strangely the blankets had the faint scent of my savior and that too worked to calm me. Finally my boredom and curiosity got the better of me and I decided to finally venture out of my small burrow. Like the mighty meerkat, I carefully poked my head out from under the covers and surveyed my environment. It was quiet, the room itself devoid of any obvious movement. Looking around, I couldn't help but feel that this place looked weirdly familiar. Bird houses hung from the ceiling, as the curtains fluttered and danced from the morning breeze. Quietly, I climbed out of my nest with all the grace of a drunk dog. Legs tangled in the blankets. I immediately tumbled forwards, and crashed with a surprisingly loud thud, face first onto the wood floor. "Crap!" My failure echoed throughout the room, causing some of the bird cages to raddle. Chirps and panicked wing flaps could be heard as I rolled onto my back. Several birds seemed to circle around my head before I was able to shoo them away. Feeling my muzzle with my hoof, I winced and felt myself actually teared up. 'Why am I crying? I don't feel any blood.' Whimpering, I examined my hoof and sure enough, it was clean. My muzzle was just throbbing. 'Stop being such a baby' I berated myself, tears still streaming down my face. Carefully standing up, I rubbed my snoot and sighed. The commotion seemed to draw the attention of more creatures as various animals began to poke their heads out from numerous nooks and spaces. The once quiet room seemed to spring to life like something out of a Disney film. Critters of all kinds seemed to come out of nowhere. From small rabbits to otters, mice and even… A bear?! What I assumed was just a large fuzzy cushion stretched out and turned to look at me. The mighty beast yawned and tilted its head at me before giving me a little wave. I couldn't help but freeze in place as all the animals just stared at me. They seemed curious to see who I was and why I caused such a ruckus, chittering and squeaking with wonder. Surrounded on all sides by an entire zoo, I felt their eyes watch me. Feeling a growing sense of fear and my still throbbing muzzle, I began to sob. Curling up, wishing I was back under my blankets. Cursing myself for even daring to venture out. "Oh dear, what was that sound? I hope no creature got hurt." My ears perked up at that voice. I recognized it. That was her… That was the voice from last night! Looking over at the door, I saw a gentle yellow pegasus. I knew her, and not just from yesterday. I knew her from somewhere else. My still scared mind struggled for a moment until I finally remembered. That's Fluttershy! She wore a concerned look and gazed around at the creatures before finally noticing me. Her eyes widened as she let out a gasp. The next thing I knew I had a face full of yellow fur. "You poor thing! What's the matter?" As she spoke, her wings wiped away my tears before embracing me in a full hug. I stayed silent, still processing what was going on. Tears continued to stream down my face. Her hug felt comforting and familiar. It felt safe… For what had to be an eternity, I fully embraced Fluttershy. Logically I should have just pushed away and asked how I got here, but this small part of my mind didn't want to let her go. Burying my face into her soft fur, I slowly felt myself relax. Embracing her, I cried. I sobbed out all the confusion and frustration that had been building up inside of me. Her hoof gently stroked the back of my head as I felt her wings envelope me. Much like she had the night before. But this time I was dry, comfortable, and safe. Finally, I mustered up the strength to push away. "It's alright sweetie. You're safe here. No pony will hurt you." Feeling her hug loosen, I backed up a bit. Still sniffling a little, I rubbed my muzzle. It no longer hurt and I had finally stopped crying. She was much larger than I expected. Standing at least twice my size. 'How small am I?' I thought to myself as she smiled and stood up. Walking around the crowded room, she greeted and reassured every creature that everything was alright. "I guess since everycreature is awake, we should all have breakfast." Fluttershy spoke in her typical soft and gentle voice. Trotting over, she held out a hoof and helped me stand. She then put her hoof to my forehead. "You're very lucky to not have gotten a fever, being out in that dreadful storm." I simply nodded, not quite sure how to talk to her. I still wasn't quite used to my voice, let alone how I should even talk to a fictional character. "Let's get you something to eat." Following her closely, I was taken to the main room. Seeing her home from a completely different perspective was interesting. Having only ever seen her cottage on the show or in panels from the comics, to actually be here was jarring. The only way I could describe it was if you got to visit a set for a show you always watched. Only this wasn't just some soundstage; it felt lived in. She gestured over to a large green chair and I did my best to climb onto it. My small size was already annoying me a bit. When Fluttershy noticed my struggle, I felt her push me up with her wing. "Th-Thank you." I sheepishly said. Fluttershy smiled in response. "I hope you don't mind if you wait here while I go feed the other animals first. They can get quite upset when they don't have breakfast right away." "It's alright. I can wait." I said, speaking with more confidence this time. My voice was still something I had to get used to. With that she turned and trotted away. The main room was well lit and comfortable. I could feel the morning air flow from the open windows and even caught a whiff of the fresh air. Looking around, I noticed a hairbrush and mirror set on the side table next to me. "What exactly do I look like?" I couldn't help but wonder out loud. Sure, I've seen my arms, or I guess they are legs. My body itself looked pretty standard for how I pictured a three-dimensional cartoon pony would look. Looking down, I did notice my lack of a cutiemark. Guess I'd get that in time. But what did my face look like? Leaning over to the small table, I looked down at the mirror and was shocked. I couldn't quite describe it; it was as if some part of me instantly recognized myself. Yet I know I've never seen this face before. I know I've never seen this pony before. Her deep green eyes locked onto my own. Her mane, my mane, was orange and a bit messy. The tips fading into a reddish pink. Part of me could see how my human self had translated over to this new form, noticeably my freckles. Yet they now appeared closer to brown speckles upon my fur. Slowly blinking, my reflection did the same. This equine doppelganger mimicked my every movement. Raising my hoof, I felt my cheek and then mane. The pony in the reflection did just the same. That's when I caught notice of something. A horn! It was just barely poking out of the mess that I called mane. Gently, as if expecting it to somehow snap off, I carefully touched my horn. To my surprise, the horn, my horn, felt it. I could only describe it as feeling like a tooth. Hard and solid for sure, but I could feel my hoof tapping it. The filly in my reflection appeared cross-eyed as I stared at my horn. I wonder if I can do magic? I sure hope so. Suddenly, I noticed my ears twitch as the sound of flapping grew closer. Seeing Fluttershy float along with the grace of a butterfly caused me to simply watch in awe. Gently floating down, she placed the tray on the small table, lifted the pot with her hoof, and began to pour me a cup. It was at that moment I asked myself. 'Hooves, how do they work?' Author's Note Hey y'all. Sorry for the lack of updates, I've been super busy with life and work.
Chapter 1The day was much like any other for Fluttershy. She worked on her garden and had polite conversations with the numerous animals. That day had been sunny and warm, a pleasant late spring breeze blew across the peaceful forest. Accompanying the happy mare was Angel Bunny, the white mischievous bun tapping his foot impatiently. “I’m sorry Angel, I’m almost done. I just need to check up on Mr Robin. Then we can go on our picnic, alright?” She had ruffled the grumpy bunny's head before trotting over to one of the many birdhouses that hung around her peaceful cottage. As she approached the bird sized home, a head poked out and chirped. Fluttershy smiled as the small bird hopped out of his home, one wing wrapped in a bandage. “Why Good day Mr Robin. How does your wing feel today?” The bird chirped in response, and the kind pegasus nodded. “That's good. Though I do want you to keep it on just a teensy bit longer, I know you're anxious to fly. But It’s important we make sure it heals completely.” The bird just looked down and let out a sad chirp. Fluttershy just gave the robin a reassuring smile and gently patted his head. "I know what'll cheer you up." She opened her saddlebag with her wing and pulled out a small cup. Shaking it slightly, its content rattled and seemed to draw the little bird’s attention. Realizing what it was, he immediately began to hop about. Fluttershy set the cup on the bird house and opened its lid. Inside was a sweet smelling collection of delicious seeds. The bird sang happily and hopped up onto the cup before diving head first in his meal. She watched as the bird ate his fill when she suddenly felt a tug on her leg. Looking down she noticed Angel looking up at her frowning. “Alright, let's go. I’ll see you later Mr. Robin.” She waved goodbye to the bird and followed Angel. She admired the peaceful day as her and the bunny walked the trail to their usual picnic spot. The other creatures were already waiting by the time they arrived. “I’m sorry everycritter. I got a little sidetracked helping Mr Robin. I hope you all can forgive me.” Mr Bear and the other critters all nodded, chirped and grunted happily. Fluttershy smiled and began to take various snacks and food from her saddlebags. Some honey for Mr Bear, mixed salads for the other bunnies, nuts for the squirrels and finally, a big juicy carrot for Angel. He greedily snatched it from her hooves and hopped on over to the other rabbits. With the animals all happily eating their meals, she sat down and joined them. They were only halfway through their meal when Fluttershy noticed it was already getting dark. ‘How strange’ She thought to herself ‘It’s still only noon.’ Looking up, she saw dark clouds beginning to form. “Oh my! Alright everycritter, let's all gather our stuff and head back to my cottage. I wasn’t expecting rain.” By the time they had all either finished their meals or had it put back in Fluttershy’s bag, the first bit of raindrops began to fall. The sky had grown darker and the trees began to rustle. Quickly trotting along, she picked up Angel and took flight. Keeping low to the ground and with her animal friends, they all fled towards her home to avoid the worsening rain. The wind began to pick up as the sky grew ever darker. Fluttershy felt a shiver as the rain turned into a downpour and the storm grew worse. Finally, she had made it and quickly opened her door, letting herself and the critters inside. All the creatures ran, flew and skittered inside. But just before she closed the door, she gasped. “Mr Robin!” Quickly she flew back outside and over to the collection of bird houses. While she knew the little homes could handle rain, she worried about the injured robin possibly getting sick or his bandages wet. When she arrived, the rain was coming down hard and the wind was getting bad. Opening the side of his bird house, she was relieved to see the bird inside. Carefully scooping him up and placing him into her bag, she turned to flee the storm. Once inside, she shook herself off and took out the injured robin. He chirped a thanks and ruffled his feather, shaking off some of the rain on him. Letting out a relieved sigh, Fluttershy looked around. All the animals were safely inside, most cuddling each other or watching the storm unfold out the window. After drying off Mr Robin and changing his wing bandage, she placed him in one of the many indoor nests scattered about. With the room full of wet animals, some seemingly scared, Fluttershy knew it was gonna be a long night. She was finishing making her rounds throughout the home. Checking up on the critters, picking up towels and empty bowls of food. The cozy and warm interior of the cottage was juxtaposed to the raging thunderstorm outside. Scattered around the main room sat the animals, most having already begun to fall asleep. Birds sat snuggled together in tiny nests while bunnies slept soundly in fluffy piles. The rain had come as quite the unexpected shock to her as she hadn’t remembered hearing about a scheduled storm for the day. Now she trotted about, making sure every creature was comfortable. Occasionally she would see a flash from outside and braced herself for the rumble that typically followed. Thunder had always scared Fluttershy and while she managed to mostly overcome those fears, she still felt anxious from those loud booming sounds. Looking over at the sleeping animals, she did find herself relaxing slightly. They all slumbered peacefully, huddled together, warm, and dry. Breathing a sigh, the tired mare finally decided she had done enough and began to settle down. Sitting on a cushion by the lit fireplace, she watched the flames dance and opened a book. Just before she could get comfortable, she suddenly heard a bang. Jumping from her seat, the sound wasn't like the rumbles or crashes of thunder. Some of the animals awoke and seemed confused, most looking towards the source of the sound. The banging came again and again. Each time louder and more erratic. Something was at the door. She froze and looked over at the sound as it continued. Maybe a branch had fallen loose and begun to beat against her door? Or maybe something was trying to get in? Was it friendly? Fluttershy gasped to herself. Was it some sort of evil monster that caused the storm in the first place? Birds chirped and animals whimpered. Fluttershy’s imagination was abuzz with various ideas and fears on what this monster was, but before she could panic, her ears suddenly perked. She could hear crying, no not just crying. Screaming and from a foal no less, it was coming from the door. Begging for somepony to let them in, crying for the scary thunder to go away. Fluttershy knew what she had to do. Suddenly gaining a surge of bravery, she took a deep breath and rushed over to the door. Her hoof froze just momentarily before grasping the handle, a small ounce of fear still gripped her. But she knew she had to help whoever was crying out. Pulling open the door, she looked out, but before she could see who it was, she felt a small shivering, wet form lunge and grabbed onto her chest. Looking down, it was revealed to be a quivering, crying filly. Whimpering as she buried her face into Fluttershy's soft yellow fur. The relieved pegasus quickly embraced the small pony and closed the door, shielding them both from the harshness outside. Her wings enveloped the still crying filly as she began to comfort her. "Shhh… It's ok, you're safe now." She held the filly tight, nuzzling the top of her head as she felt her tremble. Fluttershy’s heart ached at the idea of this poor defenseless filly being caught up in that nasty weather. She was able to hold the filly up with her wings as she clung hard to her chest. Caring the scared pony over to the fireplace, she had grabbed a blanket and towel to hopefully clean her up. By the time Fluttershy had brought the scared filly to the fireplace and wrapped her in a warm blanket, she had dozed off. The poor thing was exhausted, Fluttershy thought as she cuddled up close. They both sat curled together as the storm continued to rage. Carefully, the gentle pegasus began to wipe away the dirt and mud from the sleeping pony. Her years of tending to small animals let her effortlessly clean the filly without them even stirring. The storm appeared to calm ever so slightly as the room remained dimly lit by the glow of the fire. Fluttershy frowned as she tended to the little one’s cuts. Why was she out so close to the Everfree and where were her parents? Fluttershy hoped they were searching for her. But she knew this harsh storm would make that difficult. She examined the slumbering filly, her cream coat now clean of mud. Her mane was messy and brown fading into a light pink at the tips. She also seemed to have freckles all around her cheeks and muzzle. The filly lacked a cutiemark and looked no older than Applebloom and her friends. Was she even from Ponyville? She certainly didn't recognize this pony. Ponyville itself isn't that large of a town, maybe her family was visiting. The puzzled pegasus had so many questions and not enough answers. She knew she couldn't figure any of it out now, so no reason to worry. What mattered now was that she’s warm and safe. Leaning in, Fluttershy nuzzled her and gave a gentle smile. She felt her move and curled up tighter. The now distant sound of thunder caused the filly to shiver. Cuddling closer, Fluttershy draped her wing over the small filly and began to gently hum a lullaby. Fluttershy’s comforting sounds and soft wings seemed to calm her. Surrounded by a seemingly warm cloud, the mysterious filly slept. Her nightmares were gone as she was enveloped in a world of peace. The mare finished her song and let out a yawn. The stress of the day had finally worn her out. Lowering her head, Fluttershy closed her eyes. She softly nuzzled the sleeping filly, before she herself drifted off to slumber.
