Graycoat of Everfree

Chapter 4

Graycoat watched as the cyan colored Pegasus streaked through the sky. Rainbow dash was showing her new routine to Fluttershy when he came over and decided to watch as well. It had been two days since his small adventure with Pinkie pie and he hadn't seen her since then. He didn't go looking for her though, hoping to understand the emotion he felt that day before he saw her again. He spent the last two days trying to learn more about the other ponies he met at the party, and saw this as an opportunity to get to meet both of the Pegasi.

“So you're like the town's vet?” He looked over at the yellow Pegasus watching the routine intently.

“I guess so, I just really like taking care of my animal friends.” She spoke softly with her eyes still fixed on the cyan Pegasus. Graycoat returned his attention to Rainbow dash as she was preparing for her next trick. She would fly into a large cloud fast enough causing it to burst and creating a dazzling array of colors in her wake. She sped towards the large cloud, but when she made contact instead of going through she bounced off and crashed into the ground.

“What the hay!?” Rainbow dash said rubbing her head. The trio turned their gaze to the cloud, which had started moving. Soon a shape had begun to emerge from the clouds, it was a hot air balloon with a giggling Pinkie pie at the helm.

“Okay that was a pretty good prank Pinkie Pie.” Rainbow dash chuckled as she flew up to the hot air balloon.

“Hiya guys!” Pinkie Pie said waving at the two ponies on the ground. She let air out of the balloon and had soon touched down.

“So what are you guys up to?” The pink mare smiled as Rainbow Dash landed next to them.

“I was showing these two my new routine, but I'm not feeling it anymore.” She said obviously annoyed that her routine had been cut short.

“Ooo I know, we can go adventuring in the Everfree Forest.” Pinkie Pie said as she started to hop around.

“Oh no I wouldn't go there, only monsters and scary things live there.” Fluttershy said as she started to shiver. “Oh but not you.” She said to Graycoat remembering that he lived there.

“I should probably get back to work.” Rainbow Dash said noticing clouds beginning to form over Ponyville.

“What about you Graycoat?” The pink mare said turning towards him. He was busy pawing at the ground and trying to make a good excuse for not going.

“Uhh..” Was all he could say before he was cut off.

“Great let's go!” She said as she dragged him off into the forest.

Once again Graycoat found himself alone with Pinkie Pie, but this time in the dangerous Everfree Forest. Every now and then Pinkie would look back at the stallion and give him a smile as they continued walking. The two were quiet as they walked, Pinkie Pie was distracted by all the different colors, and Graycoat was busy thinking about Pinkie Pie. He had started to look at the surrounding trees, in an attempt to both examine the foliage, and look out for any dangers, when he returned his gaze forward he saw that Pinkie Pie had stopped and was now facing towards him.

“You're being awfully quiet.” The pink mare said with a smile, and at a volume that was just a bit too loud.

“Too much noise attracts unwanted attention.” He said cautious of any sign of movement in the undergrowth. “It is also easier to think when its quiet.”

“Whatcha thinking about?” The mare asked at the same volume.

“Things, and try not to be so lou-”

“What kind of things?”

“Nothing important.” Their voices drowned out the sound of sticks and underbrush as a figure moved closer to the pair.

“Everything is important sill-.” Suddenly a timber wolf tackles the pink mare. Graycoat charges forward but is cut off by two more timber wolves. He dodges the first one to leap at him but the second wolf catches him on the muzzle. He jumped over the wolf and kicked it as hard as he could into a nearby tree. He charged at the timber wolf that had pinned Pinkie Pie and successfully launched it into the bushes. He helped the pink mare up and did a quick check for any serious injuries.

“RUN!” He shouted at the pink mare, there was a moment of hesitation but she followed his command. He turned around to see that the timber wolves had regrouped and were extremely hostile. He tried to remember the spell he learned that was effective against these creatures, he closed his eyes and began to concentrate. One of the timber wolves saw this as an opportunity to attack and leaped at the stallion. With the wolf mere hooves away, the stallion's eyes snapped open and a burning slash cut through the air. The two halves landed at Greycoat's sides, smoldering at where the two halves used to meet. The smaller of the two remaining timber wolves fled, fearing the same fate, but the one that attacked Pinkie Pie remained. The two charged at each other and Graycoat slashed at the timber wolf. The timber wolf evaded the near invisible attack, and brought its claws across the stallion's side. Graycoat kicked in response, but the wolf dodged the attack and tried to claw his face, only to be met by a burning sensation as its legs were cleaved off. The timber wolf, now unable to escape or fight back, was quickly dispatched. With the adrenaline now gone, he started to feel the pain from his wounds. He checked the wounds on his side, and was relieved to see that they weren't serious, he turned to see Pinkie Pie return to the clearing.

“Graycoat... you're hurt.” The pink mare said with obvious concern in her voice.

“All that matters is if your okay.”

“I think so.” The mare replied. Her breathing was shallow, but Graycoat blamed it on the events that transpired.

“Let's get out of here it isn't safe.” The mare only nodded and they left the clearing.

“We're almost out of here.” Graycoat said as he turned to look back at his companion. But he wasn't greeted the same smile, Pinkie Pie's breathing was still shallow and she looked weak. He stopped dead in his tracks, and the pink mare gave him a weak smile before collapsing.

“PINKIE PIE!” He screamed as he ran to her side. The mare was barely conscious as he inspected her body for any serious wounds. He found bruising near her fore legs and hoped it wasn't too serious.  He levitated her onto his back and used what was left of his energy to teleport him to the only pony he knew could help.

The two reappeared in Ponyville, where it was now raining. He didn't arrive exactly where he wanted, but the library was still in walking distance. He struggled with the extra weight and had tried his best to be as fast and as careful as possible. He arrived at the library and knocked on the door as loud as he could.

“Goodness what happened to you two?” Twilight asked when she opened the door.

“Not right now, is there a hospital?”

“Why did you come here instead of the hospital?” She said answering his question and asking her own.

“Because I don't know where it is.” His voice contained a mixture of anger and urgency that helped get his point across. With a sudden flash the three ponies were now inside the hospital.

“We need a Doctor!” Twilight shouted at one of the nurses, who went to get the doctor, as another nurse walked over to them.

“What happened?” The nurse asked, and Graycoat told her about the timber wolf attack and the bruises. She relayed this information to the doctor when he arrived. They took Pinkie Pie into the emergency room. His exhaustion finally started to catch up to him, and he just sat down exactly where he arrived and didn't move. A nurse walked up to him and asked if he wanted his wounds treated, but he declined. The room was silent as the two waited for an update on their friend.

“What if she doesn't make it?” The stallion broke the silence, his voice hoarse.

“Don't talk like that, she will make it through.” The purple mare said as she walked towards him. The stallion looked up at the mare, tears streaming down his cheeks.

“Its not you fault, all you can do now is hope that she pulls through.” At that moment the nurse that went with the doctor came back.

“She has a fractured ribcage and some internal bleeding but besides that nothing too life threatening.” The nurse left again.

“See, she'll be fine.” Twilight reassured the gray stallion.

Two hour had passed, since they last received news of Pinkie Pies condition. Twilight left after the first hour leaving Graycoat alone with his thoughts. Just then a nurse walked through and over to Graycoat.

“The surgery was a success, and you can go in and see her, but she isn't awake.” Graycoat nodded and the nurse led him to the room. The nurse left and Graycoat walked over to the sleeping mare. He sat there and looked at the mare, hoping that she would open her eyes, but he sucumbed to his exhaustion and was soon asleep.