I blew at my hooves to keep them as warm as possible. The rain was pouring, hard and fast. I knew I shouldn't have stayed out so long. I knew it was a bad thing. But it's not like I could've left those poor, helpless creatures there, starving and just as cold as I am right now. Although, at least it was still bright out when I'd helped them. Right now, it's pitch black.
I'm in the pouring rain, in the middle of the Everfree Forest, and it's pitch black nighttime. I would run, I really would, if the smart part of me hadn't told me that I could've injured myself terribly by running. Luckily I still have a bit of sanity left in me. If only it had warned me in time to stop me from staying out in these woods. I shiver and clench my teeth to stop them from vibrating so much.
I want my body to just shut down, to immobilize, at least until the storm is over. But there's still this sensible part of me in the back of my mind, warning me that it's feats like that that could seriously harm, and possibly kill, ponies. "You... you stupid girl! Look what you've gotten yourself into," I curse myself. I decide not to stay long, because that could result in me freezing. I decide to take it slow, to walk until I can't walk any further. And so I do.
About 30 minutes in, I stop. First off, I'm shocked I made it so far. But another thing that comes to mind is that I could possibly have walked in the wrong direction, in the direction away from Ponyville. And unfortunately, if I did walk in the right direction, I instantly remember that there are timberwolves near the entrance of the Everfree Forest. Well, exit, in my case.
I squint, feeling dumb that I didn't think of doing that so long ago. And feeling stupid because it wasn't just instinct telling me to do it for once. But I don't have time to put myself down over that right now. I have to get home. Or wherever it is that I need to be right now.
I take a deep breath, because I learned that worrying won't solve any of my problems. I try to think carefully. If I was walking in the wrong direction, then I would be closer to the Tree of Harmony, which let out its own light! But I didn't see any tint of light, meaning I couldn't have walked that way. So, if I was headed in the right direction, then Zecora's hut would be near.
With a smile (that I may not actually have because I feel numb all over the place), I extend my wings to try hovering around. It doesn't work, though. My wings are soaking wet, not to mention frozen. I'm not like Rainbow Dash; I don't have the energy, power, or strength to resist the feeling and fly anyways "just because." I sigh and hold out one hoof, just walking. I feel around, sensing the occasional tree. But there is one thing I feel that isn't rough bark. It's softer than that, much softer. Sadly, too soft to be a hut. I'm about to move on when the smart part of my brain kicks in again. What thing could be that soft?
I keep my hoof on it, and I realize it feels like I do. Wet, freezing cold, and soft. My hair is soggy, and it covers my whole face, but I'm pretty sure I can see a light turn on. I remove my hoof from the thing and move the hair out of my way. Then I see it. A blue-tinted light reveals a pony face.
I yelp. She just stands there, shivering badly and creasing her eyebrows as if she's trying to remember where she's seen me before. If she even can see me. Maybe she's just trying to catch a view of me. Her horn glows brighter, and then all the light fades away. I'm scared to be without her, but I'm not sure if she's even still here. I hear a loud sigh, and I gasp. She lights up the forest with her teal magic, maybe to light a path to lead me home or something. She doesn't talk.
I nod, and walk forward. I turn around to see if she follows me, but she doesn't. She still doesn't say anything, so I don't either. But soon, the stillness mixed with silence is too much to bear. I decide to speak up in the voice I can barely manage to conjure up. "Are you coming?" It comes out a whisper, much quieter than my usual whisper. It even hurts just to talk. I guess this storm is getting the better of me.
She shakes her head, mouthing something I can't understand. "Can you speak up?" I ask her quietly. She shakes her head even more, coughing. She starts to cough uncontrollably, gagging until the seemingly last breath of life in her fades away, and she closes her eyes right before darkness envelopes us. I zoom to where she was, and then she falls, and I feel her, straight into my open hooves.
I looked ahead before the light went away, so I luckily memorized the path that lead to home. I drag her there, flying half the time and trekking the other half. When I finally arrive at my cottage, I thrust the door open and see the clock. 11:37. It's almost midnight!
My eyes widen as I set her down on the sofa, flying around my house. All my critters seem to be asleep, though, so it's all good enough. I get out a lot of food for them, setting it all out on my kitchen counter in case I sleep in tomorrow. I turn around, heading back to the sofa, and realize that I do know her. It's Starlight Glimmer, who I last saw running away in search for revenge on my friends and I for taking her village away from her.
She'd taken everypony's cutie mark, spreading the big lie that the whole town there was equal and it was a good thing. Except the one and only false part about it was that she had kept her own cutie mark. She insisted it was crucial to bring the equality to her town, but we were all convinced that she was just selfish. I sit down beside her, feeling her chest. It rises, slowly but surely. She's still alive.
I feel her forehead next, pulling my hoof away from it as soon as possible. Is it possible to be freezing cold when your head is burning hot? I guess it is, because Starlight Glimmer just proved it to be possible. I open the freezer and get out an ice pack, placing it on her head. I also take a towel from my bathroom and drape it over her body. Then, I go to dry myself off and warm up.
In my robe, I grab a mug of hot cocoa after drying off, at 12:03. As I sit besides her, I wait for about two minutes until she starts blinking. She rubs her eyes, adjusting to the light. Sitting up, she coughs a bit but manages to speak. "Fluttershy?" she asks, in the softest voice possible. At least for her, I'd assume.
Now it's my turn to be the silent one. I nod and wait for her to say more. "Why... why am I here? What is all this? Who are all those?"
"It's my home, Starlight. Those are all the homeless critters I've found who needed help and a home, too, just like you," is my answer.
She shakes her head. "You didn't answer my original question."
"Which is..."
"Why? Why did you do this? I was so cruel to you the last time we met before... all this."
I smile. "You're here because you needed help. It doesn't matter to me your past. You're a brand new pony in my eyes, helpless and needing a friend. I'd be delighted to befriend you."
She closes her eyes, laying down again and sighing. "Well, it does matter. To me. But still, you have no idea how glad I am to hear that."
"Care to explain?"
With much hesitation, she gives into my open hooves and hugs me. Then she starts to explain in a whisper. "My past... was terrible. Before the whole village thing, I had a best friend. His name was Sunburst. But one day, his magical talent was discovered before mine, and he was sent off to Magic School. I never saw him again. And that was when I realized that nopony ever wanted to be my friend. That's why I believed in equality so strongly, and also why I never viewed anypony as a real friend ever since."
My ears sink as I wrap a wing around her to comfort her. A story with a bad ending? It was impossible in my book. "That sounds terrible. I'm always open to be your friend, you know. A real friend."
"Yeah, I can tell. I could tell since the moment I first laid my eyes on you. You were the nicest out of all your friends, quick to befriend everypony, and barely hesitating to meet me. Meanwhile, you were a bit slow to pour that bucket of water over my flank and exposing me."
She closes her eyes and heaves a heavy sigh. "Of course, I really regret removing your cutie mark now."
"And I forgive you for it," I say.
"Of course you do."
"Yeah. So much that I might let you sleep in my room tonight."
She gapes. "No way!"
"Yes way!" I giggle back.
"You're too kind to me, you know that?" We both laugh. "But seriously, I can't go to your room."
"Oh," I say, confused and worried, "but why?"
She lifts the towel off of her body, folding it and setting it on the ground next to where Angel Bunny is. Then she lifts Angel and rests him on the towel. But by taking it off, she reveals her back right hooves, which has muddy plants and such on it. It's my turn to gape as I brush off the grass and leaves to reveal a big wound. "Gosh," I whisper as I quickly fly to grab my bandages in a nearby cabinet.
"Sorry they're so small. I usually use them for cute little woodland creatures rather than ponies like us."
She shrugs. "Whatever. It's better than grass." That gives us a laugh, making the bandage strip a bit unsteady. I'm ashamed of letting my hoof slip, so I go back to redo it, but she stops me. "No, it's fine, just keep going. Besides, it's incredibly kind fo you to do this either way."
I smile and concentrate, hearing her whisper, "And now I feel really guilty."
"What?" I question as I throw out the finished bandage roll.
She shakes her head and looks away. "Nothing. Whatever."
"Hey, listen. I know you're sorry. I can see you repentant about it all. But I feel like I've made it clear I forgive you," I tell her. A nod confirms that she understands.
"That still doesn't cover for the fact that I did it in the first place."
"Just stop. Stop telling yourself about what you did. It will only make you more sorry. Instead, think about tomorrow, and all the new friends I'll introduce you to."
She covers her face with her hooves. "I guess you're lucky my hoof stings, because if it didn't, I would run off."
"Please, Starlight, don't beat yourself up over it. I forgive you. And I'm sure all my friends will, too."
She shakes her head, tears quickly flowing down her cheeks. I let her lie down as I pat her. "We'll convince them tomorrow. Goodnight, Starlight."
She remains silent other than the break in her breathing, presumably from sobbing. I can't help but feel more sorry than she does as I drift off to sleep, falling asleep the moment my hooves touch my bed.
Starlight anxiously walks to the castle with me. Once I open the door to the throne room, telling her to stay behind me, I see all my friends turn to face me. "Fluttershy!" they exclaim as they talk over one another. I step forward as they follow me, and I turn around and motion for Starlight to walk in. She hesitates for a while, but walks in.
"Everypony, this is Starlight Glimmer. Anything you'd like to say, Starlight?"
She remains silent, just like all my friends, until the stillness becomes unbearable for her. Then, she speaks up, similar to the way I did. "Sorry."
And they see it in her eyes, hear it in her shaky voice, how sorry she really is. Her eyes start tearing up right before Twilight lands beside her, coming to the rescue. "Don't worry about it. You have seven new friends now." She smiles gratefully, still teary-eyed. I wink at her as all my friends surround her in a hug. I'm the last to join in the hug, ready to stand by my new friend's side.
"What happened last night? We couldn't find you in the darkness." Spike asks me to the side of the embrace.
I grin. "A lot. But it doesn't matter because I've helped Starlight reform. And that's truly the best reward I could ask for."
